Sky Sports writers have assessed where Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich will finish in the Premier League after a thrilling nine-goal clash in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Bayern are already on course for their 35th Bundesliga title with three games remaining, but PSG are at the top of Ligue 1 with six points and are getting closer to the start.
The match between the two sides in the Champions League semi-final first leg showed why. A spectacular display of world-class talent produced one of the greatest matches of all time at the Parc des Princes and sparked a debate about how the two teams would fare in the Premier League.
Sky Sports breaks down just that…
Bayern fell short, but PSG are favorites to win
PSG defeated Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal to win the Champions League last season. This time they beat Chelsea and then Liverpool again to reach the semi-finals. There’s no question they can handle it.
In fact, it is hard to imagine that there is a player in the current Premier League team who is expected to be a favorite to win the title.
Bayern Munich have a starting XI that can compete with anyone, but their lack of depth makes it hard to imagine them repeating their current high scoring record.
PSG had 10 outfield players on their bench on Tuesday night, but only seven outfield players, two of whom were teenagers. 16-year-old Filip Pavic, who has yet to make his senior debut, and 19-year-old Denis Ofri, who played five minutes in the Bundesliga.
Injuries are, of course, a factor in the departures of Renato Karl and Serge Gnabry, but this is something Bayern would have to deal with if they were in the Premier League. Vincent Kompany’s team will not be able to compete on all fronts like they are now, but they will be at the top of the table.
Ginny Boswell
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Jamie O’Hara reflects on PSG’s action-packed win against Bayern Munich and why the quality shown could be a wake-up call for the Premier League
Could it be done on a cold night in Sunderland?
Sure, they look good on the Champions League stage, but can they do it on a wet and windy night in Sunderland? This question was originally posed about Lionel Messi and it was at Stoke, not Sunderland. But if you ask me, the answer is yes in both cases.
There is no doubt that the Premier League presents different physical challenges than other leagues, but Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are quality teams at every level. Technically and physically they are outstanding. I think they will show it in the Premier League.
Regarding the Champions League, I think there is some logic to the argument that there are benefits to being in a domestic league with less competition. They can keep their players fresher than their English rivals. However, if we put them in the Premier League, there is no doubt that they will at least be title challengers.
nick wright
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Tonight on Backpage, Henry Winter and Charlotte Danker discuss the epic Champions League match between PSG and Bayern Munich
PSG are ‘on another planet’ but Bayern may struggle
There is no question that both teams will be in the race for the title.
However, it seems appropriate to remember that Arsenal beat Bayern Munich in this year’s Champions League. And for all Bayern’s attacking talent, I think they may struggle against the entrenched defensive system that has become the norm in the Premier League.
PSG are on another planet under Luis Enrique, so it will be difficult for any team in Europe to come close to them at their best, but an increased number of games could undermine their consistency.
laura hunter
PSG’s Hviča Kvaratschelia (left) smashes the ball into Bayern’s goal, beating Manuel Neuer for a happy equalizer.
An embarrassment of riches for both teams
The quality of PSG and Bayern’s starting lineups is enough to convince me that both teams can compete for the Premier League title.
The pedigree of Harry Kane, Michael Oliseh and Luis Diaz in the top flight of English football speaks for itself. A select trio of talent who perform regularly in the league.
As my colleague said, the missing duo of Karl and Gnabry can also be added to that list.
World-class talents like PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Juvica Kvaratschelia transcend national boundaries, and the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea are already feeling their wrath. There are many other ways to maintain these high standards.
Ousmane Dembele beats Neuer at the near post to score his second goal and PSG’s fifth.
Bradley Barcola, Fabian Ruiz and Lucas Hernández were off the bench, while rumored Premier League targets Gonzalo Ramos and Ibrahim Mbaye were absent. It’s a sneaky amount of quality that both teams have at their disposal and could overwhelm any opponent in any league on any given day.
There may be an argument that league leaders Arsenal have already beaten Bayern, but a repeat of that 3-1 loss to the Gunners in November could tell a different story if they were to face each other now, given the form of both teams.
World-class quality throughout the team is what we need to consistently compete in a packed game schedule.
Patrick Lowe
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PSG manager Luis Enrique and Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany have shared their thoughts on the epic 5-on-4 battle between their teams in the Champions League semi-finals.
PSG and Bayern will not just transition, they will grow
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich will either run away with it or fall short in the Premier League.
The proof of that is in the level of quality they were able to sustain in the Champions League, even more so than when they played against English opponents.
PSG’s win against Bayern was a show of individual quality, but this season’s Premier League season has come under fire.
In Bayern’s case, their wealth of talent, as well as their experience in England, will give them an edge over their rivals. Harry Kane has already shown that level, and at times so have Michael Oliseh and Luis Diaz.
Michael Olisse celebrates 2-2 draw against Bayern
The same cannot be said for PSG, but the fact that they have some of the best players in their positions across the field would suggest that they will not only seamlessly transition into the rigors of English football, but also thrive.
The question of whether the best teams in the league right now have players who can start on either team is a pertinent question.
There are no arguments suggesting major changes for either PSG or Bayern. That alone shows they will be comfortable in the Premier League.
William Bitibili
