Bayern Munich finds itself at a pivotal juncture in the season, with their Champions League semifinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain looming large. Having already secured the Bundesliga title, the Bavarians, led by Vincent Kompany, are eyeing a return to European glory, seeking their first Champions League triumph since 2020—the year they also bested PSG. This match feels like a defining moment, with their legacy on the line.

Despite Kompany’s suspension for the first leg due to a yellow card accumulation in the quarterfinals against Real Madrid, expectations are high for Bayern to challenge PSG fiercely. The winner of this encounter is likely to enter the Champions League final as a favorite, adding further weight to the showdown.

For Bayern, clinching the Bundesliga has become almost routine, and the possibility of achieving a domestic double with the DFB Pokal remains. However, Kompany’s arrival was aimed at restoring stability and rekindling Bayern’s status among Europe’s elite, alongside the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Just 270 minutes now separate them from reaching that lofty ambition.

The transformation under Kompany has not gone unnoticed, even in his absence from the first leg. Former Bayern right-back Philipp Lahm praised the manager’s impact, highlighting his calming presence and effective communication. “He brought this calmness to the club, and he has a good style of communicating with the outside. The team has immense offensive quality, but defensively, they’re often defending one versus one, and that might be a risk, especially looking at the semifinal where you’re playing a PSG team that has great individual quality,” Lahm remarked during a media roundtable. He added, “Kompany is a great representative of the club, and he really has the style of communication that you want to see from a Bayern coach. He was also able to establish the first team or the first 12-13 players, so he established a hierarchy, and this also provides security for the players.”

Kompany’s adept communication extends beyond the field. He has been vocal against racism, notably speaking out following the racial abuse Vinicius Junior faced while playing against Benfica. Additionally, he has acknowledged significant milestones in the league, such as Marie-Loise Eta’s historic appointment as head coach of Union Berlin, marking the first time a woman has led a team in Germany’s top flight.

Balancing internal player management with being a public face of the club is crucial at a powerhouse like Bayern, and Kompany has navigated this dual role with finesse. His leadership has not only cultivated a formidable team on the pitch but has also fostered an environment where Bayern’s momentum remains unchallenged this season.

It’s a different animal when facing PSG, who are the reigning champions of Europe, and of course, as a former right back himself, Lahm sees this tie being one that’s decided by the defenders. 

“PSG are very strong individually,” Lahm said. “They have a very strong offense, and obviously, they’re tough defenders. Bayern are scoring goals, and we’re seeing that both in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, but this game will be decided by the defense, so yeah, that’s key to the game.”

There are few teams in the world that can match Bayern’s attack of Michael Olise, Harry Kane, and Luis Diaz, but PSG are a side that can match. The loss of Serge Gnabry for the remainder of the season is a big one, but it at least coincides with Jamal Musiala returning to full fitness. Between Muisala and Alphonso Davies, those will be the guys that Bayern looks to make a difference, but they need to be wary of the game-changing moments that PSG can bring.

How to watch Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich, odds

• Date: Tuesday, April 29 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Parc des Princes — Paris, France
• TV: CBS | Live stream: Paramount+
• Odds: PSG +130; Draw +280; Bayern Munich +175

“We’ve seen that in the group stage as well, when Bayern played PSG, that they can do this one versus one across all positions, but it’s important to decide the situation based on what the approach should be because we’ve also seen that in the first leg of the Real game, when you lose the one-versus-one in just one position, suddenly the opponent will have lots of space,” Lahm said. “We saw that when [Jude] Bellingham came in and losing a one-versus-one situation, suddenly there were 22-30 meters of space, so you can try this approach, but it might be wiser to defend focused on space rather than having these individual one-versus-one situations.”

In more or less words, Lahm’s warning reads as look out for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The man earned the nickname “Kvaradona” at Napoli for a reason, and his arrival at PSG is what put the team over the top to win the Champions League last season. If he’s not contained, Bayern will have a long day at the office despite their own attacking strength. Kompany has been able to push the right buttons so far this season, but this is one where he’ll need to be at his best.

Of course, for the first leg, it will need to be managed without their leader on the sidelines, but plenty of prep will have been done to be ready. If Bayern are to get back to being among Europe’s elite, this is a tie that they have to win. The stage is set to do it and end their small Champions League drought with facing PSG being the ultimate measuring stick.