FC Bayern are playing in a league of their own in this Champions League season and are now on the verge of finally shooting themselves into the history books. Ahead of the semi-final first leg at Paris Saint-Germain, the focus is not only on the sporting duel, but also on possible records
With eleven wins from twelve games, Munich have already reached a historic mark. Never before in the club’s history has FCB won more games in a top flight season, surpassing the previous records from the 2000-01 and 2019-20 seasons – both of which ended with the title
Should Vincent Kompany’s side now win another game, they would draw level with Real Madrid, who have held the best record in the competition since the 2001/02 season with twelve wins
Bayern will be Paris‘ fearsome opponents
The clash with Paris Saint-Germain has long since become a perennial favourite. The two teams have met 15 times in the Champions League – nine of them since the 2017/18 season alone. Hardly any other pairing has been played more often in this period
The recent history speaks clearly in favour of the German record champions. Bayern have won all of the last five meetings, including the 2:1 in Paris in November. Such a winning streak against PSG is unique in the European Cup
FCB have also been extremely dominant against other French teams of late, winning 14 of their last 16 encounters against Ligue 1 clubs – an impressive statistic that underlines their role as favorites
Offensive spectacle at the highest level expected
In addition to the historic figures, the attacking power of both teams promises a real spectacle. Both Bayern and PSG have already scored 38 goals in the current Champions League season – the best in the competition
While the Parisians have already equalled their club record, Munich are chasing their own record from the 2019/20 treble season with 43 goals. Particularly noteworthy: despite PSG’s two additional games, Bayern’s goal average is significantly higher at 3.17 goals per game
But this is also where the biggest challenge lies: PSG are in top form in the decisive phase of the season and have scored at least two goals in each of their last eight Champions League knockout matches – a run that only FC Barcelona under Luis Enrique had previously achieved
At the same time, a look at the numbers shows that this semi-final is not just a clash between two top teams, but also a meeting of two of the best offensive teams in Europe
The stage is therefore set for a historic match – and FC Bayern have the chance to crown their already impressive season with another record.