Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain are not playing an ordinary game tonight in Munich, an ordinary second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, one of eight…It’s not a particularly historic rivalry, as PSG was founded after the Bavarians won their first European trophy and became a European brand, and it’s well-known that much of the conservative world doesn’t much appreciate the way the Parisian club became part of the football establishment; it’s not even about national identity – it hasn’t been emphasized in the club framework for a long time; it’s not even about the later clashes or revenge aspirations – somehow the Parisians overcame that defeat in the Champions League final easily and quickly.Regardless, Bayern and PSG play a huge match tonight. The clash between these two clubs is presented in Germany as a collision of worlds; two different philosophies, two systems, two diametrical understandings of sport and its role in society.UCL: Potter’s biggest win – Chelsea knock down Dortmund for the quarterfinalsFrom Munich to Hamburg, an image was created that Bayern are not only playing for themselves, for a place in the quarter-finals, but that the German champion is standing on the sidelines of true football values, with a note underlined in red that when deciding who to support, one should be guided by reason, not by heart. In the simplest terms, it is a ‘concern for the endangered European sports culture’, the local media write.One gets the impression that Bayern will have the support of almost the entire country like never before, and that many fans, despite the severe frustration with the ten-year dominance of the Bavarians in the Bundesliga, will stand by them for one night. From higher interests.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Those from Dortmund, from Frankfurt, from Cologne, from Mönchengladbach…”Tonight I am an ardent fan of Bayern. It is not my favorite club, but this time I am happy to wear its red jersey. Because Bayern against Paris Saint-Germain is playing for ‘my football’. For the football that I have loved since childhood,” the Bild journalist Alfred Draxler wrote in his column.”If one day it is possible to buy the championship or the Champions League trophy, then it would no longer be ‘my football’. And that is exactly what PSG has been trying to do for years. To buy the most important trophies. And as time passes, their aspirations more unrestrained and more and more shameless”.Draxler then reminds that the Parisians bought the Brazilian Neymar for 222,000,000 euros in 2017, which will be a record sum allocated for a player for a long time, and that in 2018 they paid another 180,000,000 to the compensation account for Kylian Mbappe. Bild’s journalist then states that huge sums may not have been spent on bringing in the third superstar – Lionel Messi – to compensate his former club, but that signing bonuses with the Argentinian’s salary have raised the annual budget of the French champions ‘to unimaginable heights’.”How much PSG pays its stars became known when Mbappe’s salary was leaked after signing a new contract this spring,” Draxler continues.”This 24-year-old will collect close to 650,000,000 euros in three years. Annually, on a salary of 72,000,000. He was paid another 180,000,000 only for putting his signature. And there is also a loyalty bonus that will grow to 90,000,000 in the third year. It’s calculated that Kylian Mbappe earns 580,822 euros a day?! Every 24 hours?! That’s obscene! That’s perverse!”.Messi: Mbappe scores three goals in the final and not lift the trophy – crazy! I would like to do great things together in ParisThen he said a word about the Bavarians…”I know that Bayern are often attacked in Germany for their financial superiority. But their success is based above all on good business, work and serious management. It is easy to prove that they never spend more than they earn. That should be the basis of the rules of Financial Fair Play. On the other hand, it seems as if Qatar is buying the entire football world. Or at least trying. Fortunately, they are failing so far. Since Neymar’s record transfer, every time someone has stood in their way – Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern, Manchester City, Real again.Still, it’s not easy to buy success. And I want it to stay that way… I’m not a dreamer, I accept the commercialization of football and I have nothing against serious investors. But Paris Saint-Germain want to destroy ‘my football’ exclusively with money, in defiance of all market laws. That’s why I’m an ardent Bayern fan myself tonight,” concluded Alfred Draxler.A matter of sports culture? Defending the proper system of values? Or something else?Endgame ♟️🆚 @PSG_English 🕘 21:00 CET#packmas #FCBPSG pic.twitter.com/4k63YJQ8u5— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 8, 2023 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE1/8 finals – 2nd legTuesdayBenfica – Club Brugge 5-1 (2-0)/Rafa Silva 38, Ramos 45, 57, Joao Mario 71(p), Neres 77 – Mejier 87/Chelsea – Dortmund 2-0 (1-0)/Sterling 43, Havertz 53 pen/Wednesday23:00: (2.05) Tottenham (3.50) Milan (3.90)23:00: (1.90) Bayern (4.30) PSG (3.75)14.03. Tuesday23:00: (2.80) Porto (3.15) Inter (2.65)23:00: (1.45) Man.City (4.60) RB Leipzig (8.50)15.03. Wednesday23:00: (2.35) Real Madrid (3.50) Liverpool (3.15)23:00: (1.57) Napoli (4.10) Eintr.Frankfurt (6.75)***odds are subject to change***
