The glamor of PSG against the tradition of Bayern in the grand final

In the year of the ineffable coronavirus, of the pandemic that forever altered the world, Europe may undergo a change in footballing direction that no one would have imagined. The PSG of the petrodollars from Qatar can be proclaimed European champion for the first time in its history, although to do so it must defeat neither more nor less than Bayern (follow the game live on As.com).

The new rich Parisians face one of the clubs that best embodies Old Europe, in every way. A very hard last step to tread for Neymar, Mbappé and company. It was only 12 years ago that an unknown striker named Amara Diané saved PSG from relegation in the French league on the final matchday against Sochaux. That kept an operation going that three years later would end up taking place: the sale of the club by Canal + to Qatar Sports Investment (QSI).

Since the arrival in Paris of this closed stock organization belonging to the Emir of Qatar, the quality leap was outstanding. World-class footballers like David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Ibrahimovic, Di María, Cavani or more recently Neymar and Mbappé landed. In total the expenditure exceeds 1.3 billion in a decade. This is how PSG conquered 7 of the last 9 local leagues and 6 of the last 9 cups. But the Champions are missing.

First Parisian final

The desire for the richest club in the world cannot be other than to also be the best team on the planet. In previous years he crossed paths with powerful rivals too early – twice Barça, once Madrid, another City, Chelsea and United – and he did so almost always without his best players, especially Neymar due to injury. As soon as he has managed to avoid it, he is in the final.

Tuchel, Klopp's rope technician who was always pursued by this comparison, has managed to understand that you don't win with stickers, but with a team. He has changed in his drawing a Magnificent Four forward for one more midfielder. This is how he won what he most needed: balance. Today, in addition, he recovers Verratti and Keylor.

Anyone would be scared by what PSG will have on the field, but not Bayern. Historically it has been the bogeyman of Europe, the great rival of many powerful teams, including Real Madrid. This is one of those sweeping seasons that the Bavarian team presents from time to time. He had his shocks, too. Niko Kovac's adventure ended abruptly in November and an interim technician at first and untouchable later, Hans-Dieter Flick, has ended up as the unexpected hero.

Flick's previous adventure as first manager takes him back to 2005, with Hoffenheim. Later he was Löw's successful assistant in the Mannschaft and perhaps because of this he has been able to interpret the transformation of football better than anyone. From the tiqui-taca with which they conquered the World Cup in Brazil, he has gone to the very high pressure and the dizzying speed of his Bayern. The adrenaline with which Klopp crowned Liverpool in Europe has made Flick his own at Bayern. Their numbers are scary: only two defeats and a draw in 36 games directed.

Bayern have not been champions since 2013, but in this edition they are overwhelming. He won his ten games and scored 44 goals (an average of 4.4). He crushed Tottenham, Chelsea and of course Barça. It won in UEFA prizes what another club has never before, more than 120 million in a single season. Everything works, even Pavard is recovered for the final. An immaculate career that runs into PSG and something else: the responsibility of maintaining European order and not giving in to a new power.