LIVE: PSG vs Bayern Munich – Champions League semifinal first leg

Kvaratskhelia comes into peak form at just the right time for the run-in, with seven goals in his last eight appearances.

He was rested by Luis Enrique for PSG’s routine 3-0 win at Angers on Saturday, which saw them take a big step towards retaining the Ligue 1 title. They are now six points clear of Lens, with four games left.

But the Champions League is the main objective, and he will be back at kickoff against Bayern, along with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, as PSG look to seize an advantage to take to Munich for next week’s second leg.

“We played a lot last season, so we were a bit tired at the start of this season, but now I think we are in really good shape physically,” said Kvaratskhelia.

With the World Cup approaching, it is a great shame that, even with the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams, there will be no place for a player whose quality was not enough for Georgia to qualify.

That, therefore, places even greater importance on the Champions League for him, although Luis Enrique is adamant that the World Cup is not distracting any of his players from the prospect of more European glory.

“It is the magic of the Champions League. It gives a special energy to the players, and everyone wants to be there and make the most of this tie,” said the Spanish coach.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cutting inside and dribbling towards the opposition goal is one of the most thrilling sights in football, and the Georgian superstar is hoping his wing wizardry can inspire Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League semifinal showdown against Bayern Munich.

“I play football because I love it, and I am always so pleased to be on the pitch,” the 25-year-old former Napoli man said on Monday.

If the English Premier League has placed a greater emphasis this season on physicality and set-pieces, the likes of PSG and Bayern have shown with their performances in Europe that football at the very highest level can still be a genuine joy to watch.

“Football has changed and is not the same sport that it was, but, of course, it is important to do beautiful things, and I am proud to be able to,” added Kvaratskhelia.

Signed from Napoli in January last year, Kvaratskhelia played a leading role for Luis Enrique’s side as they made it to the final last season and demolished Inter Milan 5-0, allowing PSG to become the champions of Europe for the first time.

This season, he has been the most prolific of his career, as he now has 15 goals between Ligue 1 and the Champions League, eclipsing the 14 he scored on Napoli’s run to the Serie A title in 2023.

Eight of his goals in this campaign have come in Europe, from a breathtaking strike against Atalanta in September to brilliant finishes in commanding knockout victories against Chelsea and Liverpool.

Kompany said the reigning Champions League holders will pose a huge challenge.

“Paris in the Champions League, the defending champions – it’s probably the toughest challenge,” Kompany said before the upcoming game.

“I don’t want to stop here. Now come the decisive weeks. We’re looking forward to them, but we also know how difficult it will be.

“Our belief is there, and that’s worth a lot in football.”

Kompany was suspended after he was booked in Bayern’s thrilling quarterfinal win over Real Madrid for disputing the referee’s decision to allow Madrid to play on and score after a hard tackle on Bayern defender Josip Stanisic.

That was Kompany’s third yellow card in what was Bayern’s 12th Champions League game of the season. He argued that UEFA should relax the rules now that there are more games than ever.

“It’s an extended format, and it’s the strictest-ever ruling with a lot of interpretation from referees, where sometimes you can get a yellow card wrong as well. So what happens then?” Kompany asked after the game.

“I’m not happy because of this, but it’s not important. The team can do it, and I’m there for the return game. I have total faith in the team, the staff, to not just continue, but also gain strength and motivation out of it.”

PSG coach Luis Enrique praised the work Kompany has done since arriving two years ago.

“Vincent Kompany is a coach of the highest level. Bayern is one of the teams I like to watch the most,” he said.

“They’re very pretty to watch. I like all coaches, but especially the attacking ones, and he is without doubt one of them.”

Vincent Kompany’s influence as a coach is a key reason why Bayern are in the Champions League semifinals, but they will have to manage without him in the first leg.

Kompany will be suspended for the opening leg after picking up his third yellow card of the tournament in the second-leg win over Real Madrid. His English assistant, Aaron Danks, will be in the dugout.

Kompany was still involved in training on Monday before Bayern’s departure for Paris, but he’ll be barred from the team’s locker room and bench at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

“We’ll miss him on the touchline. He’s our boss, a coach who’d love to be out there with us,” Harry Kane has said.

“But everyone knows what needs to be done, even if the boss isn’t on the sideline.”

Luis Enrique is well aware of the attacking threat posed by Bayern, including wingers Luis Diaz ⁠and Michael Olise, but this will not change the way his side ⁠approach the tie.

“We won the Champions League last season with [full backs] Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes doing what they do,” he said.

“Of course, they have to defend as well, but we know that they have to attack more than they defend if we want to win.

“We ‌know how difficult it will be, and we have to know how to defend well.”

The French club had long set their sights on winning the Champions League, and, having finally realised the dream last season, there is ‌no ‌chance of a less ambitious PSG this time.

“The first run was a relief. Now it’s a different source of motivation because last year was great,” Luis Enrique said. “We made history, and now we’re hungry for more.”

While Luis Enrique says Bayern Munich are the most consistent team in the competition, no ⁠team is better than his side.

“It’s not just about attacking statistics, but if you look at the defensive ones, too, these are the best teams in Europe,” Enrique ‌told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s first leg at home.

“Arsenal have done an incredible job this season, also, in terms of consistency. Bayern are a bit ahead of us because they have only lost two games. But if we speak about what we have shown as a team, we’re right up there.

“And no team is better than us. I said this after we didn’t finish in the top eight in the league phase, that I didn’t see any teams better than us.”

Last season, PSG also finished outside the top eight ⁠in the league stage before going on to lift the trophy. And in ⁠Ligue 1, having battled with Lens for long periods, they are six points clear.

“Every coach wants to head into the run-in in the best possible conditions,” the PSG manager said.

“It’s the magic of the Champions League, which gives special energy to the players; everyone wants ⁠to be there and to make the most of this time.”

Serge Gnabry, Tom Bischof, and Sven Ulreich have all been ruled out with injuries, as has Raphael Guerreiro, who suffered a minor hamstring tear against Mainz at the weekend.

Teenage star Lennart Karl is approaching full fitness as he recovers from a torn thigh muscle and may be available.

Predicted starting XI:

Neuer (goalkeeper), Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Pavlovic, Kimmich, Olise, Musiala, Diaz, Kane

Key midfielder Vitinha looks like he has overcome a heel issue sustained earlier this month, but Quentin Ndjantou has been ruled out with an injury.

Desire Doue and Nuno Mendes hobbled off injured in the quarterfinal second-leg win over Liverpool, but both were named in the squad to face Angers and should be available to feature against Bayern.

Midfielder Fabian Ruiz played 45 minutes against Angers as he works his way back to full fitness following a two-month layoff with a knee injury, and will likely start against the German champions.

Predicted starting XI:

Safonov (goalkeeper), Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves, Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

Hello, welcome, and thanks for joining our live coverage as Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich for the first leg of their blockbuster Champions League quarterfinal.

Whoever makes it through this Champions League semifinal will surely be the favourites for the final in Budapest in May, where either Arsenal or Atletico Madrid will await.

Bayern – perhaps the most in-form team in Europe – are eyeing a treble, having already sealed the Bundesliga title this season and reached the German Cup final.

Defending champions PSG, meanwhile, are also in good form and six points clear at the top of Ligue 1, but they must overcome a poor recent record against Bayern to reach the final in May.

PSG have lost their last four Champions League games against Bayern, although they did knock the Bavarian side out of the Club World Cup last July, beating them 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

Whatever happens, plenty of goals seem likely. Both sides have scored 38 in the Champions League so far this season, more than any other club.

I’m Patrick Keddie, and I’ll take you through our live build-up to the match along with all the photo coverage of the day.

Adam Hancock will bring you the team sheets as they drop, as well as the comprehensive text commentary of the game.