Champions League preview: Ruler of Europe welcomes mighty Bayern

“We’re in a very good position, we feel ready and fit. There’s a lot of anticipation but also tension, of course. These are two teams who are right at the top level,” said Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl.

Bayern have been sensational this season, recording 15 wins from 15 games — a remarkable run unmatched across Europe’s top leagues. Last weekend, Vincent Kompany’s side impressed again with a 3-0 home victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In the Champions League, the Bavarians have already secured convincing wins over Chelsea (3-1), Paphos (5-1), and Club Brugge (4-0).

Despite sitting second in the group, Bayern are level on points and goal difference with PSG, trailing only because the Parisians have scored more goals. “We’ve earned the right to go in there full of enthusiasm. It has to be rock ‘n’ roll. They have confidence, we have confidence — it’s going to be a great game,” said Kompany.

The fixture promises excitement beyond the table. Past encounters between the two sides have always delivered top-quality football. Last season, Bayern edged PSG 1-0 in the league phase but lost 2-0 in the Club World Cup quarter-finals over the summer. “The last few games have always been evenly matched, and the team that scored first usually won. It will be a cracker. We’re going there with confidence and hope to win,” said Serge Gnabry.

Joshua Kimmich also noted the growing rivalry between the clubs. “It feels like we play against PSG every year,” he said, adding clearly, “We’re going there to win.”

PSG, like Bayern, are among just five teams to have claimed nine points from three Champions League games this season. The French champions showcased their European ambitions with dominant wins over Atalanta (4-0), Barcelona (2-1), and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (7-2).

However, domestically, PSG have faced some stumbles. A recent 1-1 draw at Lorient and a narrow 1-0 home win over Nice — secured by Goncalo Ramos in stoppage time — have dented their Ligue 1 confidence slightly. Yet Luis Enrique’s side still leads the table by two points over Marseille.

Despite injuries in attack — including Ballon d’Or winnerOusmane Dembele and currently sidelined Desire Doue — PSG remain potent offensively, as highlighted by the seven-goal haul in Leverkusen. The supporting line ofSenny Mayulu, Bradley Barcola, and Goncalo Ramoscontinues to perform at a high level.

Enrique praised his team’s resilience after the late win against Nice: “It’s great that we all have this mentality.”

Aside from long-term absentees Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, and Jamal Musiala, the rest of the squad traveled to Paris. Ito even completed the final training session with the team. PSG will be without Desire Doue (muscle strain) and Ilya Zabarnyi (suspension) against Bayern.

In another much anticipated match, Liverpool welcome record champions Real Madrid at Anfield.

The potential return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Anfield will be an intriguing subplot to this blockbuster tie, after the former Liverpool right-back departed for Real Madrid in the summer.

He has struggled for playing time in Spain and was an unused substitute in Real Madrid’s last two matches, so it remains to be seen how much – if at all – he will play here.

“I can only tell you what reception he [Trent] gets from me. I have great memories of the player and human, my vice-captain,” Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said at his pre-match press conference.

“I have memories working with him that are only positive. I watched him in front of the television and only great memories of him in a Liverpool shirt. He will get a warm welcome from me but let’s see how our fans react, I have no clue. A warm welcome from me, that is for certain.”

Liverpool benefited from some good fortune to beat Aston Villa on Saturday for only their second win in eight across all competitions. Their other was a 5-1 Champions League thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt, which put Arne Slot’s side 10th in the standings.

Tuesday’s visitors, Real Madrid, have been almost unstoppable under former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso this season. In addition to holding a five-point lead at the top of LaLiga, they have a perfect record of three wins from three in Europe.

They head into this match off the back of a 4-0 victory over Valencia, and have lost just once in all competitions this season.

These two teams also met in the league phase of this competition last year, when Liverpool triumphed 2-0 at Anfield, halting an eight-game losing run against their Spanish opponents.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 4

Tuesday

Napoli vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Slavia Praha vs Arsenal

Atletico Madrid vs Union SG

Bodo vs Monaco

Juventus vs Sporting

Olympiakos vs PSV

Tottenham vs Copenhagen

Wednesday

Paphos vs Villareal

Qarabag vs Chelsea

Ajax vs Galatasaray

Benfica vs Leverkusen

Club Brugge vs Barcelona

Inter vs Kairat Almaty

Man.City vs Dortmund

Newcastle vs Ath. Bilbao

Olympique Marseille vs Atalanta