Paris Saint-Germain are on the cusp of making history but regardless of the outcome of their UEFA Champions League final clash with Bayern Munich on Sunday, a new chapter has already been tabled for the Ligue 1 outfit. It has been a long time coming for Les Parisiens whose ambition has been to secure the trophy of Europe's elite club competition ever since the arrival of Nasser Al-Khelaifi and his Qatar Sports Investments ahead of the 2011/2012 season.
In close to a decade massive investments have been made, big names have been signed and PSG's image globally has been significantly elevated to a level that was unfamiliar to many a while back. The fast-tracked success has come with its own perks, some regarding Financial Fair Play breaches while others have to do with the parting ways with managers who all but succeed in bringing the one trophy that has eluded the French capital club - the UEFA Champions League.
Neverthless, Thomas Tuchel has seemingly cracked the code as Paris Saint-Germain are just a win away from having their names etched in history as champions of Europe. But they come up against the toughest opponents one can ask for in Bayern Munich. With their shortcomings in previous editions of the Champions league serving as precedence, measuring the chances of the Ligue 1 champions in the continental cup will yield an unsubstantiated outcome. However, if their tag as local champions bears any weight, then the Bavarians could be in for a ride come Sunday.
Final preparations! #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/iQrzlPBx3W
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 22, 2020
In total, PSG have made 20 appearances in French domestic cup finals since QSI took over the reins of the club in 2011. Les Parisiens have featured in Coupe de France seven times during the period (2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020), six times in Coupe de la Ligue (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020) and seven times in the Trophees des Champions (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019).
While winning these trophies have been formalities on frequent occasions, what will draw peculiar attention is the number of times the Parc des Princes outfit has veered away from convention for the purpose of the upcoming finale with Bayern. Among the 20 aforementioned titles, only two have gone the way of other finalists.
The first was in 2011 where a late goal by Obraniak in the 87th minute fired Lille past the French capital outfit in that Coupe de France. The period in-between proved to be rewarding as the next cup final defeat will not be seen until eight years later in the same competition. Here, two goals from Dani Alves and Neymar Jr, and a Kimpembe own-goal ensured that PSG led 2-1 at half-time against Rennes. However, the then defending champions gave up their advantage and were forced to play in the extra-time after Mexer's 66th-minute equaliser. In the end, Christopher Nkunku's missed spot-kick proved to be the decider, ensuring that Julien Stéphan's men ran away with a 6-5 win from the shootouts.
While Thomas Tuchel will be crafting a plan to steer clear of conceding late goals that could alter the outcome of proceedings, he would be pinning down a blueprint that has guaranteed success in cup games in close to a decade. Per the records available, the possibility of PSG winning a cup game whenever they score first is firmly in place. In the 20 finals played since 2011, 70.6 percent of the matches have yielded such an outcome. Relatively, fighting back is nothing new to the club. Out of the 18 titles won, three of the games (signifying 15 percent of the total) were won after the club had conceded the first goal.
Prediction:
#PSGFCB#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/FsdO5cM5IM
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 22, 2020
In a nutshell, Paris Saint-Germain will be required to put in a performance with a higher standard than what has fetched them these impressive numbers on the domestic front coming up against Bayern Munich. Considering that both teams have immense attacking talents in their respective camps, it seems highly unlikely that the game will enter extra-time.
The Bavarians will not be pushovers but if their semi-final with Lyon taught us anything, it is that they can be vulnerable and beaten if chances are taken. And with PSG having Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria in their ranks, goals are promised. It is a close call but I am optimistic about Bayern Munich edging the French outfit.
Full-time: Paris Saint-Germain 2:3 Bayern Munich.
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