Champions League final: Navas back but Verratti on bench for PSG, Coman starts

Tom Webber
August 23, 2020 17:59 MYT
Keylor Navas returned but Marco Verratti was left out of the Paris Saint-Germain line-up for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, who benched Ivan Perisic for Kinglsey Coman.

After sitting out the semi-final against RB Leipzig with a hamstring injury sustained in the prior round against Atalanta, Navas was deemed fit enough to take his place in goal back from Sergio Rico.

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said in his pre-match news conference Verratti was in contention to start but would not be able to play 90 or 120 minutes due to the calf problem with which he has been struggling.

The Italy international was subsequently named among the substitutes, with Ander Herrera, Marquinhos and Leandro Paredes in midfield for the Ligue 1 champions.

Bayern likewise made no changes to midfield, with Thiago Alcantara keeping his place as Joshua Kimmich continued at right-back, Benjamin Pavard fit enough only for the bench after battling a metatarsal ligament injury.

Hansi Flick opted to bring in former PSG winger Coman for Perisic, though, despite the France international having not started the quarter-final or semi-final wins over Barcelona and Lyon.

Our final XI #PACKMAS, BAYERN #MissionLis6on #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/PHX1o3dm8x

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 23, 2020
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#PSG #Bayern München #Thomas Tuchel #Marco Verratti #Keilor Navas Gamboa #Ivan Perišić #Kingsley Coman #football #UEFA Champions League #Bayern Munich #Thiago Alcantara #Benjamin Pavard #Hans-Dieter Flick