Key Takeaways
- Toni Kroos views the tie as evenly matched but considers Bayern Munich slight favourites to advance
- Lothar Matthäus believes Paris Saint-Germain have improved significantly since November and will triumph
- The first leg kicks off this evening in Paris with both clubs regarded as Europe’s current elite
Two former Bayern Munich midfielders have shared opposing views regarding the outcome of the Champions League semi-final. Toni Kroos and Lothar Matthäus have predicted different results for the clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
Kroos told Sky that Bayern remain favourites despite facing a challenging away match this evening. He praised the German side’s campaign, highlighting that they have already won the Bundesliga and hold a strong position for the domestic cup final.
“When you reach this stage in May and are competing on all fronts, you have done an excellent job. The championship is secured. They are clear favourites for the cup final. In the Champions League, I see this as a 50-50 contest between what I believe are the two best teams in Europe,” he stated.
In contrast, Matthäus backs the French champions. The former Germany international, who played for Bayern during two separate spells in the 1980s and 1990s, feels that Luis Enrique’s side has developed considerably since their group stage encounter.
Matthäus pointed to the November fixture, which Bayern won 2-1. He observed that PSG showed their true ability in the second half, even while playing with ten men.
“I rate Paris Saint-Germain more highly now than in November. They built on that display during the knockout stages. Therefore, I do not expect Bayern to dominate in Paris as they did back then, especially since that earlier match was not a knockout tie,” he wrote in his Sky column.