If PSG should remember only one figure before facing Bayern Munich, Wednesday March 8, in the knockout stages of the Champions League, it is 6% – like the chance that the Parisians have of qualifying after losing in the first leg (0-1).

Before this decisive meeting for the capital club, only 5 of the 89 teams that lost in European competition managed to reverse the trend.

This statistic has the merit of being clear: PSG has no other choice than to achieve a feat in Bavaria, under penalty of experiencing the end of the season again far from the starry lights and the objective set by the Qataris who acquired the Parisian club in 2011: lift the Cup with big ears.

But to hope for this outcome, the Parisians will have to put other ingredients than in the first leg.

Their coach did not say anything else on Tuesday during the pre-match press conference: “We will have to play a lot more than what we did in the first leg (…).

It will be necessary to have a much more aggressive behavior, to play a more complete match”, explained Christophe Galtier.

PSG played with a low block organized in 4-4-2 during the first period at the Parc des Princes, which left little room for projections towards the opposing cage.

"This scheme did not really favor the offensive expression of the Parisians, who will not have triggered a strike in the game and will only have negotiated three balls in the opposing area", deciphered L'Equipe the day after the first leg. , February 15.

Kylian Mbappé, determined and in shape, can change the game

But the Parisians also showed a completely different attacking face after Kylian Mbappé entered on the hour mark in the first leg.

The French striker, back from injury, was not 100% but still created danger in the defense of Bayern.

He even thought he scored the equalizing goal (82nd) ​​on a service from Nuno Mendes, before the left side was finally flagged offside.

Kylian Mbappé can single-handedly embody the 6% chance that PSG have of qualifying.

After the 0-1 in the first leg, he was not necessarily defeatist: “There is still a possibility.

We will go (to Munich) with a lot of energy and determination.

(...).

If we equalize, if we play our attacking football, if we score, then we have to play with what we have in our pants.

In addition to his determined state of mind, Kylian Mbappé has returned to form over the past three weeks: he has scored five goals in the last three Ligue 1 matches he has played, contributing largely to the Parisians' clear victory in Marseilles (0-3) .

His return to form will be decisive at the Allianz Arena.

For his coach Christophe Galtier, "Kylian's presence allows us to have more depth and percussion, but we will have to be higher up the field and above all recover the ball higher up in the opposing camp."

Bayern Munich are wary of the French striker and will probably watch him like milk on fire.

"The most spectacular player right now is very clearly Kylian Mbappé, his explosiveness combined with the right choices in the penalty area," said Bayern striker Thomas Müller, before warning: "We're not going to watch him. , we will interfere with his work (Wednesday evening)."

Neymar's private PSG for the end of the season

The Parisians, like every year at the end of winter, play their season on a Champions League match – for which they have great ambitions.

Except for the final lost against Bayern Munich in 2019-2020 (0-1) and an elimination in the semi-final against Manchester City in 2020-2021, PSG has struggled in recent years to go beyond the stage of the round of 16.

The capital club have failed at this level of the competition five times in the last seven years, and a sixth elimination on Wednesday evening would not be the best effect for the end of the season.

In the event of another failure, PSG must expect an avalanche of criticism: they could, among other things, concern Christophe Galtier's lack of European experience, the recruitment perceived as disappointing of football adviser Luis Campos since his arrival at the club or even the injury of Neymar, once again forfeited in the "money time".

The absence of the Brazilian could also be a double-edged sword against Bayern, as Christophe Galtier said: “He is a decisive player.

Neymar is 17 goals and 11 assists this season.

He is seriously injured, he has always been very professional since I have been at the club, he had a very difficult post-World Cup period.

So is the team more balanced (two in front rather than three with Mbappé and Messi, editor's note), yes, by the profiles of our midfielders.

Is it better like this?

No, having 'Ney' is a plus."

In the absence of Neymar, Galtier's 3-5-2 has achieved a certain balance.

There are only two left with little or no defense, Messi and Mbappé, and the middle triangle, with Vitinha and Marco Verratti at its base, squares the field well.

It is rather in defense that the shoe pinches, and Christophe Galtier fears mistakes that could "give far too much hope" to Bayern.

"We will obviously not have the right to have this behavior on Wednesday evening," he asserts.

With AFP

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