Kylian Mbappe, Fresh From A Record-Breaking Weekend With Paris Saint-Germain, Is Determined To Lead The French Giants Past Bayern And Into The Quarterfinals Of The Champions League Kylian Mbappe heads to Munich with the goal of leading the French giants past Bayern.
After Mbappe’s injury forced him to make a cameo appearance off the bench in that match last month, PSG now has a 1-0 lead going into the first leg of the heavyweight last-16 match.
However, the France superstar, who is only 24 years old, demonstrated that he has the ability to tip the balance in favor of the Parisians in his short time on the field, including having a goal disallowed for slight offside.
The leaders of Ligue 1 have won three straight domestic games and scored 11 goals since that game, recovering from a troubling dip in form.
Mbappe has scored five of them, one of which he scored in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Nantes, making him PSG’s all-time leading scorer, five and a half years after joining from Monaco in 2017.
The remarkable record of 201 goals from 247 games in a PSG uniform belongs to the player who became the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score.
Even though Lionel Messi recently surpassed him to win The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, Mbappe, has scored 30 goals in 30 games for his club this season.
Messi, who has scored 18 goals for PSG this season, serves primarily Mbappe in Christophe Galtier’s team, for whom Neymar’s injury in Munich may not matter for several more months.
However, PSG and its Qatari owners would really care if they lost in the first round of the Champions League for the fifth time in seven seasons.
Mbappe’s best performance with PSG came in Munich
One of Mbappe’s best performances with PSG thus far came in Munich the following year, when they lost to Bayern in Lisbon, their only appearance in the final to date.
Mbappe scored twice in a 3-2 quarterfinal first-leg victory over Bayern in an empty Allianz Arena in April 2021 on a snowy night.
He scored the first goal, giving Paris a 2-0 lead. Bayern came back to level the score, but Mbappe scored the winning goal by smashing his shot past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at his near post after planning to curl one into the far corner.
Mbappe said on Saturday that “we are going to Munich with the clear aim of qualifying,” and he played down suggestions that leaving PSG would prompt his departure.
“I don’t think this match will affect anything. Without wishing to disrespect the club, I would have left long ago if I had tied my future to the Champions League.
“I’m here, and it makes me very happy. Other than ensuring the success of PSG, I have no other thoughts.”
Issues with the defense
In Bavaria, PSG may require Mbappe’s goals more than ever because Galtier does not have any issues with the defense to look into.
The coach’s options in that position have been limited due to the fact that Presnel Kimpembe will miss the remainder of the season due to an Achilles injury. His team has performed at their best this season when playing with three center backs.
At the weekend, captain Marquinhos was forced to leave because of a rib injury, and Nordi Mukiele was also kicked out.
Even if he isn’t 100% fit, the former, whose mobility is so crucial to a defense with an aging Sergio Ramos, is expected to play.
Even though Achraf Hakimi may return at right back less than a week after being charged with rape, Mukiele’s presence would also be beneficial.
PSG has stated that they are supporting the Moroccan while the case is being investigated, and the player is free to leave France despite the legal proceedings.