The parrots and sheep will predict Bayern Munich to win the 2020 Champions League Final, but the smart money is on Paris Saint-Germain to win.
Not only do PSG have Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, two of the top four players in the whole world, they also have Ángel Di María who himself is easily a top ten player in the world.
All three of these players have excellent chemistry, and all three are too fast and too skillful and creative in 1v1 situations for any defender or defenders to contain. You may stop them a few times, but they are all capable of torching multiple defenders in a row on multiple occasions throughout any game against any opponent.
In addition to PSG’s attack, which is the best in the world, PSG also boast a central defense led by Thiago Silva, arguably the world’s premier defender. Normally, PSG start Thiago Silva and Marquinhos together in the center of the defense, but it appears that Marquinhos will once again play as a defensive midfielder where he is also imperious, skillful, lightning fast, and an excellent ball-winner.
For all the hype and praise surrounding Bayern Munich, PSG is the team with the better players. The French side should’ve won the Champions League every year that Neymar and Mbappé have been playing together.
Bayern Munich seem to be the favorite of most of the journalists and pundits, which is quite odd considering PSG’s attack. Why would you bet against Neymar and Mbappé…and Di María for that matter. The only explanation is that these journalists and pundits hold some sort of animosity towards Neymar. It’s never really been clear why there is so much animosity toward Neymar. The only incident that sticks out is when he rolled excessively after being fouled in the 2018 World Cup. This incident appears to have really incensed lots of people, and it really is quite fascinating that this one incident caused so much hatred.
Neymar is the most fouled player in world football, and anyone who watches his games can see how often and how hard he is fouled. Fouls on Neymar are frequently vicious stomps and cleats to the ankles, calves, and feet. Anyone who calls Neymar a diver clearly doesn’t watch him play very much.
As good as Bayern are, they can’t match the firepower and defensive class of PSG. Robert Lewandowski is a deadly and clinical striker who is likely the best Number 9 in the world, but as good as Serge Gnabry and Ivan Perišić are, they are several levels below Neymar, Mbappé, and Di Maria. Bayern have been successful even though they have left Coutinho on the bench for Thomas Müller for much of the season. Bayern normally start Perisic over Kingsley Coman, but the Frenchman Coman is a very skillful and electrifying player who is likely more dangerous and more difficult to defend than Perisic. Having Coman starting would cause more defensive headaches for PSG.
One could argue that starting Coman and Coutinho as the wings to the side of Müller would give Bayern a stronger and more dangerous attack, but arguments such as these frequently elicit comments about how Bayern shouldn’t alter their lineup. Such an argument also rocks the boat in a world where groupthink rules.
Bayern have been operating on the idea that Thomas Müller and Coutinho can’t play together because they would get in each other’s way, but Coutinho excels on the left wing where he often plays for Brazil, in addition to playing as a right wing if Neymar is playing.
Nevertheless, Bayern have four excellent wing options. If this writer were facing off against a loaded PSG side, he’d pick Coman and Coutinho over Perisic and Gnabry. It is controversial, but they are outstanding attacking players who are a nightmare for defenders. Many people argue that altering a consistently successful team for a final is a risky and bad idea. But, Bayern’s defense are going to be in trouble for most of the game. Can they stop PSG’s attacking trio? Bayern might need to raise their firepower.
Alphonso Davies as a left back is one of Bayern’s biggest weapons, and having Davies and Coutinho on the left side would certainly cause PSG’s right back Thilo Kehrer plenty of headaches. He and Presnel Kimpembe are the weak links in PSG’s squad if you can even call them weak links. The former plays for Germany and the latter plays for France.
The French side’s other weak spot is their back-up keeper for Keylor Navas, but this should be offset by the scoring threat of Neymar, Mbappé, and Di María. It wouldn’t be crazy to suggest that they are the best attacking trio since Brazil 2002 World Cup trip of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Ronaldo or Barcelona’s attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Luís Suárez, and Neymar.
Bayern vs. PSG presents an entertaining midfield battle. Bayern have Thiago and Goretzska, but PSG have Marquinhos and Paredes (and possibly Verratti. Not to mention Gueye. The midfield battle hasn’t been the media’s focus in the build-up to this game, but PSG’s midfield with both Marquinhos or Gueye with Verratti is arguably better than Bayern’s. Once again, if one really thinks about the two teams, it isn’t clear why many have Bayern as their pick.
Bayern are an outstanding side whether it’s Neuer in goal or Thiago Alcantara and Goretzska in the midfield or Davies at left back or Müller and Lewandowski in the attack, but PSG has three attacking grandmasters whose skill and threat outweighs any collective team skill or cohesion that Bayern have.
Despite Bayern being the favorite of most, look for Neymar, Mbappé, and Di María to have too much class and speed for Bayern Munich.
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain