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UEFA Champions League action returned on Tuesday night, but the biggest fixture at this stage of the competition will be the rematch between 2020 finalists Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich have continued their impressive form this season and are currently unbeaten in the Champions League. Meanwhile, PSG lost two games in the group stage of the European competition but were commanding in the two-legged Round of 16 fixture against Barcelona.
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As one would expect, the Bavarians are the leaders in the Bundesliga. However, their French opponents have surprisingly fallen behind in the race for the Ligue 1 title and are three points behind table-toppers Lille.
Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain: 5 players who will be key in determining the outcome of the match
Bayern Munich and PSG have a star-studded lineup, with some of the best players at both ends of the pitch.
While Robert Lewandowski is currently out injured, we take a look at the five players from either team who could play key roles in the outcome of this game.
#1 Keylor Navas | Paris Saint-Germain
Keylor Navas is a veteran in the UEFA Champions League. During his spell with Real Madrid, he helped the club lift three back-to-back titles between 2016 and 108, though much of the spotlight was on the charismatic Cristiano Ronaldo.
The shot-stopper has consistently produced some amazing reflex saves to rescue PSG. Despite being 34, he is one of the most athletic goalkeepers in Europe at the moment.
Navas was a brick wall against Barcelona in the second leg of their last 16 tie and blocked as many as eight shots in the first half itself. His save to deny Lionel Messi from the penalty spot proved to be the turning spot in that game.
He was rightly awarded the Man-of-the-Match award after his inspiring performance. His experience in the knockout stages of the competition will come in handy against Bayern Munich.
#2 Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich
Thomas Muller will be without his partner-in-crime, Robert Lewandowski, on Wednesday. The absence of the prolific striker puts additional responsibility on the Raumdeuter's shoulders, as he is expected to not only create chances but finish them too.
Muller has 15 assists in the Bundesliga this term and with nine games to go, he can surpass his own record of 21 assists in a single campaign.
While he only has three assists to his name in the Champions League, he can always create something out of nothing to provide his teammates with goalscoring chances.
Paris Saint-Germain have been solid defensively this season and have a fully fit back four heading into the game. Muller will have to make use of all of his skills and experience to break the dogged PSG backline.
Also See: The 10 highest-paid goalkeepers in the world
#3 Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich suffered a double injury blow ahead of their crucial fixture. After Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry will also miss the game after testing positive for COVID-19.
With their influential winger ruled out of the game, Leroy Sane could find himself in focus here. He is back to full fitness but is yet to touch the heights that he reached with Manchester City.
His pace and wicked left foot make him one of the biggest threats for PSG. The Parisiens have a great centre-back pairing, but their full-back positions are a weak point as regular full-backs Juan Bernat and Layvin Kurzawa are ruled out.
#4 Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar has the ability to single-handedly change the outcome of the game, as he displayed against his current employers in 2017. He has been prolific in front of goal since moving to Paris but has missed their 2018 and 2019 knockout campaigns on account of injuries.
Alongside Kylian Mbappe, he is the club's top scorer in the competition, having found the back of the net six times in five appearances. His temperament has been questionable this campaign as he has been awarded three red cards in his last 15 games.
The player possesses quick feet and will be hoping to target Joshua Kimmich in midfield so that his teammates get to have a run at the defenders.
#5 Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain
When PSG are in action, the player who is in focus is almost always Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman has been one of the most lethal finishers in Europe over the last three seasons.
The former Monaco man has been on fire this season, scoring 20 goals in Ligue 1 and six in the Champions League. He ran riot against Barcelona in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash. PSG would be hoping for a similar kind of performance from him against Bayern Munich.
Mbappe has started to develop a big-game personality. When PSG face Bayern Munich on Wednesday, he will be hoping to exact revenge on their defeat in the final last season.
Also See: 5 most supported football clubs in the world
