'Kim Min-jae vs Lee Kang-in': One of them is guaranteed to advance to the Champions League final... 'Historic firepower display' — Munich and PSG's 'BIGBANG'

*This content was translated by AI.

At the final gateway to the European summit, two key players of the South Korean national team, Kim Min-jae (30, Bayern Munich) and Lee Kang-in (25, Paris Saint-Germain), face off in a decisive one-on-one showdown.

Munich and PSG will play the second leg of the 2025–2026 UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarterfinals at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, at 4 a.m. Korean time on the 7th. In the first leg held on the 29th of last month, PSG won 5-4 in a fierce match that saw a combined nine goals scored by both teams.

The first leg was a continuous display of breathtaking firepower. After Bayern Munich's Harry Kane scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, PSG turned the match around with consecutive goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and João Neves. Munich later equalized through Michael Olise, but a penalty kick by Ousmane Dembélé in stoppage time of the first half gave PSG a 3-2 lead.

In the second half, PSG extended their lead to 5-2 with additional goals from Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé. With the match seemingly lost, Munich managed to narrow the gap to one goal thanks to late strikes from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Díaz, finishing the game. The fact that Munich held on despite conceding heavily on the road served as a significant consolation.

However, Munich exposed serious defensive instability throughout the first leg. With a high defensive line, the slow-footed Jonathan Tah struggled against opponents penetrating behind the defense, failing to avoid poor form, while Upamecano committed a fatal error in the defensive line, bringing about a crisis.

As a result, it is anticipated that the quick-footed Kim Min-jae could become a practical solution in the second leg to control the opponent's fast attack. If Kim Min-jae, who sat out the first leg, returns to the starting lineup, he is expected to play a key role in restoring the collapsed defensive balance with his signature speed and coverage ability.

PSG's Lee Kang-in is also awaiting his participation in the second leg. Although Lee Kang-in played only 263 minutes in 10 Champions League matches this season, limiting his playing time, his value remains high given the tournament's nature where a single moment can decide the outcome. In particular, Lee Kang-in's sharp left-footed kick is considered among the best within PSG. A single strike from Lee Kang-in in set-piece situations or at critical junctures of the match could become the most powerful weapon to dismantle Munich's defense.

Kim Min-jae is aiming for his first Champions League title since joining Bayern Munich in this tournament. In contrast, Lee Kang-in, who already tasted European supremacy last season, will challenge for back-to-back titles if he can overcome this hurdle in the second leg.

The team that wins this match will face Arsenal (England) in the final, having already defeated Atlético Madrid (Spain) to reach the final, for the ultimate showdown over the Big Ears trophy.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.