After a record-breaking weekend with Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe is Willing to take the French juggernauts over Bayern and into the Champions League quarterfinals as they travel to Munich.
Due to an injury, Mbappe was limited to a cameo appearance off the bench last month, leaving PSG down 1-0 after the first leg of the intense last-16 affair.
But, the 24-year-old France superstar did enough in his brief time on the field to demonstrate that he could turn the tie in favour of the Parisians, including having a goal disallowed for a slight offside.
The Ligue 1 leaders have since rebounded from a worrisome run of form to win three straight domestic matches while scoring 11 goals.
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Five of them are from Mbappe, who, five and a half years after joining PSG from Monaco in 2017, surpassed Edinson Cavani to become the club's all-time leading scorer with one in Saturday's 4-2 victory against Nantes.
The player who, in December, became the first since Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final has an incredible record of 201 goals from 247 appearances while wearing a PSG jersey.
"Make A Mark."
"Every player participates in football to make a mark and ensure that his name is recorded in football history and is never forgotten. In front of a cheering throng, Mbappe accepted a trophy from PSG and remarked, "I think with this record that people will remember me here.
Even though Lionel Messi recently edged Mbappe out for the Best FIFA Men's Player title, the teenager has 30 goals in 30 games for his team this season and has a good case for being the finest player in the world right now.
With 18 goals for PSG this season, Messi is mostly there to support Mbappe in Christophe Galtier's squad, for whom Neymar's injury-related absence in Munich — and for several more months — may not be an issue.
Yet it would matter to PSG and their Qatari owners if they lost in the first round of the Champions League for the sixth time in seven seasons.
On their lone outing against Bayern in Lisbon, they lost. One of the most powerful performances of Mbappe's career with PSG occurred in Munich the following year, but the final took place in 2020.
Mbappe scored twice in a 3-2 quarterfinal first-leg victory over Bayern in an empty Allianz Arena on a wintry night in April 2021.
He got Paris out to a quick 2-0 lead. Bayern managed to tie the score, only for Mbappe to score the game-winning goal. The Frenchman appeared to be curling the ball into the far corner when he smashed the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at the near post.
"The game on Wednesday is already on my mind. Mbappe stated, "We are heading to Munich with the obvious aim of qualifying," before denying claims that a PSG exit would hasten his departure from the club".
"I don't believe this game will have any significance. Without intending to be disrespectful to the team, if I had tied my future to the Champions League, I would have left long ago".
"I am here, and I'm delighted to be. Making PSG succeed is the only thing I am considering"
Defence-Related Issues
PSG might need Mbappe's goals in Bavaria more than ever because coach Galtier isn't looking for his defensive issues.
His team has performed best this season when playing with three centre-backs, but the loss of for the rest of the season, replacing Kimpembedue to an Achilles injury, has reduced the coach's choices in that area.
Nordi Mukiele and captain Marquinhos were forced off games over the weekend due to injuries to their ribs.
The former is anticipated to play even if not healthy because of how vital his mobility is to a defence that includes an ageing Sergio Ramos.
Although Achraf Hakimi might return at right-back less than a week after being accused of rape, Mukiele's presence would also be beneficial.
PSG has stated that they are assisting the Moroccan player while the case is under investigation and that the player's ability to leave France is unaffected by the judicial proceedings.
