As the Champions League last-16 continues with its essential second-leg matches, Sky Sports’ soccer writers select the important thing speaking factors from the standout ties.

Can record-breaker Mbappe get what he desires from PSG – and with out Neymar?

Bayern Munich vs PSG (agg 1-0), Wednesday, kick-off 8pm

It has been a superb week for Kylian Mbappe, who broke the Paris Saint-Germain goalscoring report together with his 201st objective for the membership on Saturday night.

It is a significant landmark for the 24-year-old ahead – however now the eye turns again to the Champions League, the one trophy to have evaded the Frenchman in his profession.

PSG go into Wednesday evening’s last-16 second leg at Bayern Munich trailing 1-0 from the primary encounter in Paris. The French champions will want a significant efficiency to progress and can possible flip to their talismanic No 7 for inspiration.

However, they are going to be with out fellow star ahead Neymar. The Brazilian has been dominated out for the rest of the season as he undergoes surgical procedure on an ankle damage picked up in February. The French facet have misplaced considered one of their key gamers in probably the most essential components of the season – and Mbappe might want to play a good greater function.

But ought to PSG exit of the competitors at this early stage, it will open up a wave of hypothesis about Mbappe’s future in Paris. Can PSG ship Mbappe the trophy he actually desires?

The participant himself is adamant that Champions League fortunes won’t dictate his future, however Mbappe could be 25 by the point the subsequent knockout levels come round. He can be getting into his prime and would wish to be at the absolute best membership to attain a number of European honours to match his stature.
Sam Blitz

Will Spurs kickstart their season once more?

Tottenham vs AC Milan (agg 0-1), Wednesday, kick-off 8pm

Tottenham haven’t gained a European knockout sport in any UEFA competitors since they reached the Champions League last in 2019.

That isn’t the one hoodoo Spurs are dealing with as they put together to host AC Milan on Wednesday evening. It has been a decade since Antonio Conte final made the Champions League quarter-finals as a supervisor, with last-16 and group-stage exits in every of his final 4 campaigns at Europe’s high desk.

They maybe won’t get a greater likelihood to succeed in the quarter-finals of the Champions League than this 12 months – as they arrive up towards a facet in an analogous scenario to themselves: Out of the title race and within the midst of inconsistent outcomes.

Trailing Milan 1-0 from the primary leg, Conte and Spurs want a last-eight spot on this 12 months’s competitors to kickstart some life into their season and present this facet have improved from final season.

An exit and Spurs can be competing for fourth place once more, as they have been on the finish of the final marketing campaign – is that this sufficient for Conte, Harry Kane and others to remain devoted to this venture for one more season?

Spurs have missed their taking pictures boots of their final two video games – however have managed large derby wins of their most up-to-date residence matches towards West Ham and Chelsea. Those two matches are one thing to duplicate on Wednesday.
Sam Blitz

Musiala is the main man for Bayern now

Bayern vs PSG (agg 1-0), Wednesday, kick-off 8pm

Speaking to Jamal Musiala within the blended zone after the German Super Cup win in Leipzig in July, he outlined the problem of changing outgoing striker Robert Lewandowski. Musiala had been the primary of 5 Bayern Munich gamers to attain that afternoon.

“With all the goals that he scored, it is not easy to find a player like that. But we have an amazing squad and we have to spread the goals out between all of us and have to find offensive solutions apart from Lewandowski to score goals.”

As the Michael Jordan meme goes, Musiala took that personally. The 20-year-old midfielder is Bayern’s high scorer within the Bundesliga this season, changing into maybe their most necessary participant. Against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening, the staff will flip to him.

As properly because the objectives, Musiala is second within the Bundesliga for assists this season. He additionally ranks fifth for probably the most dribbles within the competitors too. His motion, on the ball and off it, is proving elusive – an unlikely feat on condition that he stands six toes tall.

Julian Nagelsmann has stated that the ball sticks to Musiala’s foot like a magnet and the Bayern coach has discovered an fascinating function for him on this staff. The rotations round Musiala usually change, the formation too, however there’s a zone that he has made his personal.

“Left-side 10,” that’s how Musiala described it that day in Leipzig. “It is pretty open,” he explains. “You can always rotate to go out wide or come inside, there is space inside for me to turn and dribble into and create chances. It all depends on the opponent how we play.”

PSG can be doing their very own factor in Munich with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to name upon, however don’t be too shocked whether it is Musiala who’s the decisive determine on this Champions League tie. The man who has stepped up since Lewandowski’s departure.
Adam Bate