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PSG vs Bayern Munich: A Spanish final without Spanish teams

marca.com, 22 August 2020, 11:19

T he Champions League final beckons and for a second consecutive year, there won't be any club representing Spain.

However, the final won't be completely without Spanish representation as both Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich boast a number of Spaniards within their ranks.

For the Parisians, there will be a total of four Spaniards hoping to lift the famous trophy: Sergio Rico, Juan Bernat, Ander Herrera and Pablo Sarabia.

Bayern, meanwhile, have Real Madrid loanee Alvaro Odriozola, Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara in their squad.

In Tuchel's side everything indicates that both Ander Herrera and Bernat will start the match, with Sergio Rico likely to remain in goal in place of the injured Keylor Navas.

Ander Herrera

The 31-year-old left Athletic Club in 2014 in search of matches like the one he will play in tomorrow.

He spent five years at Manchester United, where he won the Europa League with the Red Devils, before moving to PSG last summer.

Unfortunately, in his first season with the Parisians, Herrera has endured multiple injuries which has kept him from playing as much as he would have liked.

Juan Bernat

Bernat will be playing against his former team-mates on Sunday night and will be looking to secure the quadruple for his current employers.

The Valencian left-back, who played 113 matches for Bayern Munich, should start for PSG on Sunday, where he will be aiming to win his sixth trophy at the club.

However, he will have tough opposition in Serge Gnabry, who scored two in the semi-final clash against Lyon.

Bernat has made 31 appearances this season, scoring two goals and providing seven assists.

Sergio Rico

The goalkeeper on loan from Sevilla has had to battle it out for the No.1 shirt with Keylor Navas this season.

However, due to Keylor's injury, he has played a few games for PSG and it remains to be seen who will get the nod on Sunday.

Pablo Sarabia

Sarabia is a player that anyone would want in their team and despite mainly featuring as a substitute, he is the Spaniard that has made the most appearances for PSG, providing both quality and determination.

Sarabia has played 40 games this season, scoring 14 goals and assisting a further eight.

Bayern have been known for their scouting of Spanish players in the past, but out of their three Spaniards, only Thiago Alcantara features regularly.

Javi Martinez and Odriozola may feature on the bench for the German side, but it remains to be seen.

Thiago Alcantara

This will probably be Thiago's last run out in a Bayern Munich shirt after having been linked with a number of clubs this summer.

Thiago won the treble in his first season at Bayern and will want to end his time in Bavaria in the same fashion.

Despite having over a year out injured, he has scored 31 goals and assisted 37 in his 234 appearances for Bayern.

This season, he has played 39 games and boasts a 90.7 percent pass success rate.

Javi Martinez

The Spaniard arrived at Bayern in 2012, being a part of the side that won the treble under Jupp Heynckes.

Continuous injuries have forced the player to play more games as a central defender than as his preferred role of defensive midfielder.

Alvaro Odriozola

The only player at Bayern Munich that can win five trophies this season: LaLiga Santander and the Supercopa de Espana with Real Madrid and the potential treble in Germany.

Despite the injury to Benjamin Pavard, the Spaniard still hasn't been in the forefront of Hans Flick's plans, playing just six times and providing one assist.

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