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Paris Saint-Germain are set to appear in their first UEFA Champions League final as they will take on five-time winners Bayern Munich in Portugal.
The French and German champions have made their way through to the finals after beating a list of blockbuster names. Unlike many participants and inspiring underdog stories in the past, they did so by playing expansive, attacking football, as opposed to looking for the decisive goal and shutting up shop.
PSG got past fellow free-scoring sides Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta Bergamo in the first two knockout rounds, before cutting through underdogs RB Leipzig in the semi-finals. Goals from Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat helped Thomas Tuchel seal the game against his former protege, Julian Nagelsmannn.
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His compatriot Hansi Flick, on the other hand, has been rampant right from the very moment he took over the reins from Niko Kovac. Bayern Munich under the German have looked like a different team altogether, as Flick has sparked the squad back to life and they've performed better than they have in previous seasons. A compelling case can be made for over half the Bayern squad having their best season to date, including the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller.
Bayern were pitted against Chelsea in the first knockout round, and the Bavarians got past them without breaking a sweat, putting seven goals past them over two legs. Barcelona were up next, and the game ended in a historic scoreline as Bayern put in a clinical display to find the back of the net eight times against them. Olympique Lyon's valiant effort in the semi-finals wasn't enough as Bayern cruised past them with a 3-0 win.
As the domestic giants of France and Germany are set to battle each other for European supremacy, here, we take a look at the best combined XI of available players from both teams.
GK: Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich
While both Manuel Neuer and Keylor Navas have had commendable seasons in goal, the latter suffered an injury in the quarter-finals against Atalanta due to which he was subbed off. He couldn't recover for the semi-finals, and with it looking all but likely for Navas to be fit for the final, Neuer takes this one.
That being said, even based on pure merit, the German has been unbeatable in the UCL so far, rolling back the years with several stunning saves for Bayern. The 34-year-old came up clutch in the semi-finals against Lyon, making a string of vital saves. Although Les Gones will rue their woeful finishing, if it wasn't for Neuer and his commendable experience, the Frenchmen could have easily had a couple of goals on the night.
Neuer will have to be at his very best to keep the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at bay in the final.
Also read: Most expensive footballers in the world in each position
RB: Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich
The Bavarians' go-to utility man, Joshua Kimmich comes in at right-back ahead of Benjamin Pavard due to his injury. His PSG counterpart and compatriot Thilo Kehrer has also impressed at right-back for Tuchel's side. However, Kimmich is yet to put a foot wrong regardless of where he's played and has impressed profoundly.
Kimmich played a large part of the season in midfield until Pavard picked up an injury, forcing him to move to right-back. This was a move that didn't affect Bayern in the slightest, if not make them even better. Thiago's pairing with Leon Goretzka in the middle has proved to be a remarkable combination, allowing Kimmich to bomb down the right flank and support the attack.
The all-action German starts at right-back but is virtually all over the pitch, covering every blade of grass for the Bavarians. Kimmich is the embodiment of the sheer energy and determination of this Bayern side. The 25-year-old also registered his tenth assist of the campaign against Lyon.
CB: Thiago Silva | Paris Saint-Germain
A lot has been made of Thiago Silva's performances when it comes to the most crucial moments in the UCL. The veteran centre-back has been PSG's go-to figures in defence for the longest time, but a lack of European accolades has tainted his glorious time in Paris. The 35-year-old is now 90 minutes from rewriting history and etching his name into the record books.
Thiago Silva has been absolutely colossal for PSG this year, particularly impressing in the knockout stage. Much like Neuer, even at 35, the Brazilian centre-half has shown Europe what he's capable of and what makes him one of the best defenders of his generation with a string of commanding displays. O Monstro has barely put a foot wrong, and has been a vocal leader at the back for PSG's inexperienced defence.
The Brazilian would hope to continue this fine vein of form and lead PSG to their crowning moment of everything they've built over the last decade or so. He will be up against the best striker in the world, Lewandowski, and would have to be at his very best to stop him.
CB: David Alaba | Bayern Munich
David Alaba went from being Bayern Munich's staple left-back to playing in the heart of defence after the emergence of Alphonso Davies out wide. Although Alaba's played at centre-back before, he hasn't done so on a regular basis. That might not appear to be the case for anyone who watches him play as the Austrian has been simply superb in central defence for the Germans.
Alaba has added another dimension to the way Bayern patiently build up their attack. The left-footed defender has been arguably the best player in the side when it comes to bringing the ball out of defence, and owing to his dribbling ability, he often bypasses the midfield press and gives the Bavarians an edge.
Despite his comical own goal which was hardly a talking point of Bayern Munich's 8-2 win against Barcelona, Alaba was imperious on the night, shackling Barcelona's waning attack. The Austrian international's transition from full-back to centre-back has been one of the primary reasons for this Bayern team looking so comfortable when in possession.
LB: Alphonso Davies | Bayern Munich
Undoubtedly one of the best wonderkids on display in this year's UCL, Alphonso Davies is one of the most unique threats that PSG will be faced with in the final. The winger-turned-full-back has all the traits of a dangerous attacker going forward while also having the diligence to track his runners at the same time.
It is easy to forget that he's just 19 and that this is his maiden UCL campaign. The Canadian international has been simply superb every time he's taken to the pitch, and has put in some crucial displays for Bayern. Davies' performance against Barcelona was phenomenal, and his evening was summed up by a breathtaking sequence wherein he went past Lionel Messi and Arturo Vidal before a moment of magic. He sent Nelson Semedo the wrong way, and before the Portuguese knew what hit him, Davies found Kimmich in the box to assist Bayern's fifth goal.
Davies' clash against Kylian Mbappe will be a duel of two of the fastest footballers on the planet, one that will certainly be a joy to watch in the final.
Also read: Top 5 young players of this football season (2019/20)
CDM: Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain
Thomas Tuchel experimented with Marquinhos' role last year due to the lack of personnel in midfield, but it was one that paid an astonishing amount of dividends for the German. The Brazilian, although he has played exclusively in defence for a majority of his career, looked like he had been playing in midfield all his life — such is the quality of the former Roma man.
Marquinhos has been peerless at the base of PSG's midfield, playing the role of a third centre-half while in possession and acting as the destroyer without the ball. His ability to win possession back from the opposition has been the critical factor for his consistent performances, and the 26-year-old has shown great composure on the ball as well, which is another crucial aspect of his midfield role. Not to mention, he's currently on a hot streak of two goals in two games.
The Brazilian has helped nullify some of the most dangerous threats faced by PSG so far, and he will now come up against arguably the most in-form team in the world. The final would be another game for Marquinhos to prove his versatility and truly own his relatively new midfield role, having carried it out excellently so far.
CDM: Thiago | Bayern Munich
The Spanish metronome came to Bayern Munich as a talented footballer looking for regular game time and could now potentially leave Germany as European champion. Thiago Alcantara has been at the heart of the Bavarians' impressive midfield set up, effortlessly pulling strings from the middle of the park.
The Catalan has been the subject of a lot of transfer speculation in recent times, but has been a model professional and not allowed any of it to take away anything from his displays on the pitch. Thiago looks fitter, sharper and more experienced than ever, as Barcelona found out the hard way in the quarter-finals. The 29-year-old has been the epitome of an all-action midfielder in the UCL, making more than his fair share of defensive actions as well as controlling the tempo of the games.
On form, he has arguably been the most impressive midfielder in the competition so far after some of the most well-rounded displays witnessed by this year's edition of the UCL. Alongside a perfect foil in Leon Goretzka, Thiago has been simply phenomenal in the middle for Bayern.
CAM: Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich
It would be inaccurate to say that Thomas Muller has rolled back the years with his performances this year as the German has enjoyed what is undoubtedly the best season of his career so far. Muller was on the brink of being left on the periphery of proceedings until Flick took charge of Bayern, and since that moment, there has been no looking back.
The 30-year-old took control of Bayern's creative responsibilities in the final third this year and went on to break the record for most assists in a Bundesliga campaign. With a whopping 21 assists to his name, Muller has been the chief architect of all the damage done by the Bavarians and, particularly, by Robert Lewandowski, as the German assisted eight of the Pole's goals — the highest single combination in Germany. His understanding of spaces and movement is simply unparalleled, and this aspect has been on full display in 2019/20.
Muller has also put in tireless shifts for his side, pressing relentlessly at every opportunity and winning the ball back high up the pitch. The Raumdeuter will be one of the key men that PSG need to account for while plotting their tactical set up.
Also read: Top 10 players with the most assists in Europe this season (2019-20)
RW: Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain
One of two PSG superstars that the Bayern defence will be tasked with keeping out, Kylian Mbappe is already one of the best footballers in the world at 21. Despite his age, he's already played two UCL semi-finals for two different clubs and is all set to play his first final of the competition. Mbappe already has five goals and five assists in just nine games this year.
PSG's clash against Atalanta was the perfect example of exactly how crucial the world's second-most expensive player is to them. The Italian underdogs were under pressure from the Parisiens but defended diligently to keep their one-goal lead intact after a first-half opener from Mario Pasalic. Mbappe, despite his injury concerns since the French Cup final, was subbed on in place of Pablo Sarabia and changed the landscape of PSG's attack from the get-go.
The Frenchman can make the difference for his side and will be one of the two biggest threats that Bayern Munich will have to nullify. Much like Bernat, Kimmich has also shown a knack of pushing higher up the pitch, and if he isn't watchful of Mbappe down PSG's left-hand side, it could be a very problematic evening for the German.
LW: Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain
Perhaps the player that requires the least introduction on this list, PSG superstar Neymar has arguably been one of the standout players in the UCL so far. The Brazilian has been heavily criticised for his unavailability during crunch European games and for his reported desire to move back to Barcelona since moving to Paris.
However, he has put all that behind him to play some of the best football that Neymar has on the European front for years. On his day, he is a player that can single-handedly run the show for any club in the world. He was at his surreal best against Atalanta despite his questionable finishing, and deservedly won the Man of the Match award after levelling the record for most dribbles in a UCL game over the last decade. Neymar was the chief tormentor for Leipzig's inexperienced defence as well in the semi-finals.
Neymar would hope to break his goalscoring duck in the final after coming painfully close to scoring without actually doing so in the last two games. The Brazilian superstar is 90 minutes away from etching his name into the history books as he hopes to lead PSG to their first-ever UCL trophy.
ST: Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich
Mere words cannot do justice to explain the sort of season that Bayern Munich's sensational striker Robert Lewandowski has had. The Pole has been magnificent throughout the 2019/20 campaign in whichever competition he has competed in. While he has always been associated with scoring goals aplenty, the 31-year-old has never had a season like the ongoing one in his career.
His late strike against Lyon, essentially a goal which added further gloss to a comfortable scoreline, was his 56th (!) goal of what has been a breathtaking season. Fifteen of them have come in the UCL alone in just nine games. Lewandowski is two short of levelling Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 17 goals in a European campaign, and should he break the record; the Bavarian striker will do so in lesser games than the Portuguese as well.
Lewandowski could perhaps ease the pain of the Ballon d'Or being cancelled altogether by helping Bayern to their historic second treble. The 31-year-old has been well and truly unstoppable, and would hope to continue his record of having scored in every CL game this year. Undoubtedly the best player of the tournament, and possibly the best player in the world this year across any competition.
Also read: 5 players who destroyed their parent clubs when on loan
