Tactics, tempo, triumph: What makes PSG so dangerous for FC Bayern

Since Qatar's sovereign wealth fund bought Paris Saint-Germain in 2011 and PSG's subsequent rise to the top of world football, all of their encounters with FC Bayern have been played at the very highest level. In September 2017, the German record champions suffered a 3-0 defeat to Thiago Silva, Edinson Cavani & Co. at the Parc des Princes, while FCB won three consecutive games against the Paris side featuring Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi from the Champions League quarter-final second leg in April 2021 (1-0) until March 2023.

The PSG management then changed course and focused less on big stars and more on a close-knit community - which nevertheless impressed with its individual class. This development culminated in the 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final - the highest winning margin in a final in the history of the competition. However, on the way to the long-awaited first trophy in the club's history, coach Luis Enrique's team lost 1-0 to FC Bayern at the Allianz Arena in the league phase. "I think we're very similar to Bayern Munich. Both teams want the ball, both press aggressively. The stats say we're very similar," said the PSG coach in relation to the game last November - and also in the press conference a day ahead of tomorrow's match.

The two European heavyweights also met in a competitive match in the summer, with the French side ending a run of four straight defeats by beating Bayern 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup. But the Munich men left with their heads held high as they had the reigning CL champions on the brink of defeat. Despite these five predominantly positive memories of their clashes with PSG, Vincent Kompany's team would do well to be on their guard in their next encounter in the French capital on Tuesday evening (21:00 CET). Find out what makes the young PSG side as dangerous as ever in our opposition profile.

Serial champions have competition

Before Qatar acquired the capital club, the Parisians had finished 15th, 16th and 13th in Ligue 1 between 2007 and 2010. Between 2013 and 2025, Les Parisiens became champions 11 times in 13 seasons, a run only interrupted by Monaco in 2017 and Lille in 2021. The trophy cabinet of the proud club, which was only founded in 1970 - when FC Bayern was already celebrating its 70th anniversary - has been full to bursting ever since. 13 league titles, 16 cup wins and a European Cup Winners' Cup in 1996 have now been complemented by the Champions League trophy and the UEFA Super Cup. The latest honours are an incentive for the current team to remain at the top of Europe.

The title race in France is proving to be very exciting this season. Although PSG are in first place after ten games, sixth-placed Lyon are just four points behind the league leaders. Teams such as Marseille and Lens are breathing down the Parisians' necks. By their own standards, the French giants are currently experiencing a slight dip in form and results in Ligue 1, as Enrique's side have drawn three of their last four games: 1-1 at Lille, 3-3 against Strasbourg and 1-1 at Lorient. "The team that wins Ligue 1 will be the most consistent - in the first ten games, but also in the next ten, over the whole season," said the coach about the league. "Of course we can still improve our performances, but we're top of the table right now."

However, PSG were rather lacklustre in their dress rehearsal at home to Nice: the narrow 1-0 win, secured by Gonzalo Ramos in the fourth minute of stoppage time, was not very convincing. In contrast, Marquinhos, Vitinha & Co. have shown a different face in the Champions League so far.

UCL: League leaders host closest pursuers

In Europe's premier club competition, the 4-0 opening win against Atalanta was followed by laying down two more markers: First, the Parisians demonstrated their strength in a 2-1 away win at Barcelona, followed by a 7-2 thrashing of Bayer 04 Leverkusen in their own stadium. With three matchdays played, PSG are in first place in the league table with 13:3 goals, followed by FC Bayern in second place with 12:2. "Who is the best team in Europe or in the world will not be decided tomorrow, but at the end of the season," said Enrique in the run-up to the showdown with FC Bayern: "At this stage, it's obvious they're a very strong side - as they always are. Especially now: they've won 15 competitive games in a row, so we know how difficult it will be. And we're ready and motivated, we want to win!" But one thing is also clear: It doesn't get any more top-class than this. While injuries are slowly wreaking havoc on the six-time winners of the Champions League from Munich, the French have suffered one important loss.

Who will play for Doué?

Midfield strategist Fabián Ruiz (groin injury) and attacking midfielder Kang-in Lee (ill) have been out recently, but Enrique could otherwise call on his whole squad - until the away game at Lorient: attacking midfielder Désiré Doué, who scored twice in both the CL final against Inter and the crushing win at Leverkusen, was carried off injured. The 20-year-old Frenchman will be sidelined for several weeks due to a thigh injury.

That kind of loss would probably hurt any European team, yet PSG's squad is packed with as many formidable replacements as a menu in a Michelin-starred restaurant on the Champs-Élysées. The attacking options include the likes of Bradley Barcola, Gonçalo Ramos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, who can provide a variety of tasty treats. Dembélé, the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or, recently returned from a thigh injury. "Ousmane is fit, he hasn't missed a training session in a fortnight and he's played every game in the last two weeks," said Enrique. "He's slowly getting back to full strength and so he'll certainly play tomorrow. I don't yet know for how long, but he'll play - because he's ready. We'll decide tomorrow how long he'll get." PSG also have a lot of young talent in their ranks, with players like Lucas Beraldo (21), João Neves (21), Warren Zaire-Emery (19), Senny Mayulu (19) and Ibrahim Mbaye (17) all looking at a bright future.

Donnarumma replaced by Chevalier

The pre-season transfer window was rather quiet by PSG standards. Centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi, who is suspended for the Bayern clash after being shown a straight red card, and goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier are the top new arrivals. Frenchman Chevalier replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma, who then moved to Manchester City as the new number one. Players such as former Munich player Renato Sanches (to Panathinaikos) and Randal Kolo Muani (Tottenham Hotspur) have been loaned out. Coach Enrique often deploys a 4-3-3 system in front of the 23-year-old Chevalier, with PSG only playing a more defensive 5-3-2 in the Ligue 1 top match against Marseille at the end of September. They promptly suffered their first defeat of the season (1-0).

The Champions League winners’ successful system

The winners of Europe's premier club competition have impressed above all with their tactical finesse and flexibility. In Zabarnyi's absence, ex-Frankfurt player Pacho and veteran Marquinhos could play in defence against Bayern - or Enrique could bring in former FCB player Lucas Hernández, who was sent off for assault in the clash at the Club World Cup. In Nuno Mendes on the right and Achraf Hakimi on the left, PSG also have two of the world's most feared wing-backs in their squad, who are a real threat in attack. Mendes has already been directly involved in seven goals this season (four goals, three assists), while Hakimi's not far behind on five (two goals, three assists). With their attacking runs down the flanks, they both create overload situations and new passing angles. "I think there will be similar match situations to those in the USA, full of intensity and principles. It's an attractive encounter that both teams will go into feeling highly motivated," said Enrique.

When PSG play out from the back, the powerful Vitinha, João Neves or Zaire-Emery act as the link between defence and attack. Youngster Mayulu could also be deployed alongside Vitinha against Bayern. Ahead of them, Kvaratskhelia provides dynamism and a change of pace in the channels, while Dembélé adds additional unpredictability to the French side's attacking play with his dribbling strength and variable positioning. If FC Bayern can keep the world-class trio of Barcola-Dembélé-Kvaratskhelia in check as much as possible - as they have done in the past two head-to-heads - it will significantly increase their chances of victory. "It'll be very intense and high-class. It's the kind of game we all love to play - where we can show how well we perform as a team," said Vitinha ahead of the clash, adding: “It'll be one of the challenges we're looking for. What will be key? Difficult, as I said, it will come down to little things - sometimes an individual action, sometimes by the whole team. Maybe the ball will just hit the post, maybe it'll glance off and go in - it'll be difficult to say what made the difference in the end."

PSG's pressing is characterised by collective coordination, targeted trigger points and perfectly orchestrated positioning - they don't wait for mistakes to happen, they force them. The team sees possession as a means to control and gain space. Enrique's side combines surprising changes of position with getting back in a disciplined manner. "We have players who can perform well in different positions," said the coach of his team. "We are a real example of a team whose players can also change position during the game."

Despite absences - such as Doué - PSG remain one of the most dangerous and modern teams in Europe thanks to the depth of their squad and their tactical versatility. So both sets of fans and every football fan can look forward to the next showdown between these two European heavyweights. Enrique agrees: "The team that does a better job both in defence and attack will win. Both teams love to play football and will have their foot on the accelerator - the fans are going to love it!"

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