Hakimi’s Birthday Showdown: PSG Ready to Welcome Bayern in a Champions League Clock-Blaster

Match Preview

Spanish coach Luis Enrique, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, announced the squad that will face Bayern Munich today in the UEFA Champions League. The fixture will take place at the Parc des Princes in Paris, as part of the fourth round of the group stage in a competition now featuring 36 teams.

Both Bayern and PSG sit among a select group of five sides to win all three of their opening matches, joining Arsenal, Inter, and Real Madrid in the early-season elite. It promises to be a marquee clash as two footballing powerhouses collide in Europe’s premier club competition.

PSG opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over Atalanta in Paris, followed by a 2-1 victory at Barcelona, and then a breathtaking 7-2 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. Bayern began with a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at the Allianz Arena, added a 5-1 thrashing of Pafos in Cyprus, and completed the trio with a 4-0 win against Club Brugge in Munich.

Coinciding with the Bayern match is the birthday of Moroccan star Ashraf Hakimi, who turns 27 on November 4, 1998. The moment is not lost on PSG, who publicly congratulated him on X (formerly Twitter) and included him in the 21-man squad picked by Enrique for the Bayern test.

Hakimi has been a cornerstone of PSG since joining from Inter Milan in 2021 for 60 million euros and recently extended his contract through 2029. With the Parisians, he has claimed every major domestic and European title, including the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. Across 188 appearances for PSG, Hakimi has tallied 27 goals and 38 assists, along with 28 bookings and three red cards. He has worked under Mauricio Pochettino, Christophe Galtier, and Luis Enrique, who extended his stay until 2027.

PSG’s 21-man squad for Bayern

The list features a blend of experience and youth, with Hakimi among the defenders, and a balance of goalkeepers, midfielders, and attackers. The exact lineup was published by the club and will be watched closely as Paris look to maintain their perfect start in Europe.

Injury and suspensions

Defender Ilya Zabarnyi misses out due to a suspension earned in the previous match against Bayer Leverkusen. French winger Désiré Doue is sidelined with a thigh issue from the Lorient game, affecting the squad’s options on the flanks.

Season and European Form

PSG have registered six wins and one defeat in the current campaign, with a 1-0 loss at Marseille contributing to a rare blemish in an otherwise stellar start. They have also drawn twice as they navigate a busy schedule. In Europe, Paris have won all three group-stage matches so far, including a 4-0 win over Atalanta, a 2-1 win at Barcelona, and the astounding 7-2 triumph over Leverkusen in Germany.

Paris Saint-Germain versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League promises to be a tactical duel with high tempo, individual brilliance, and a touch of birthday luck for Hakimi. It’s a game that could shape Group Phase dynamics and set the tone for the knockout rounds. May the best defense and the sharpest counter-attack prevail. Punchline 1: If speed were a crime, Hakimi would be serving life without parole and still outrun the goalkeeper. Punchline 2: Bayern may bring a hammer, but PSG’s pressing is a nail that won’t stay in the wood—this one’s going to be a lively headache for the defense.