Navas to start for PSG; Coman in for Bayern in CL final

Posted August 23, 2020 7:00 am

By TALES AZZONI

Trophy for the winners of the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich is placed on the pitch at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. (Miguel A. Lopes/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Goalkeeper Keylor Navas is back in the starting lineup for Paris Saint-Germain for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on Sunday.

Navas had missed the semifinal against Leipzig because of a right leg muscle injury that had forced him to be replaced by Sergio Rico late in the quarterfinal against Atalanta.

Bayern coach Hansi Flick opted for Kingsley Coman instead of Ivan Perisic for the final at Benfica's Stadium of Light. Perisic had been the regular starter on the left but was replaced by Coman in the last two matches.

Seeking its first Champions League title, PSG will be at full strength in attack, with Neymar, Kylian MbappÃ© and Ãngel Di Maria all playing. Di MarÃa scored a goal and set up two others in the team's 3-0 win over Leipzig in the semifinals. MbappÃ© came off the bench in the game against Atalanta because he had been nursing an injury.

Five-time champion Bayern, seeking its first European title since 2013, will count on its high-scoring attack again. It's led by Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry, who have combined for 24 goals. Lewandowski has 15, two shy of Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 17 in a single Champions League season.

While Bayern has the best attack in the competition this season, PSG has the best defense, led by Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva and defensive midfielder Marquinhos, who will start again on Sunday.

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Lineups:

PSG: Keylor Navas, Thilo Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Presnel Kimpembe, Juan Bernat, Ander Herrera, Marquinhos, Leandro Paredes, Ãngel Di MarÃa, Neymar, Kylian MbappÃ©

Bayern: Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, JÃ©rÃ´me Boateng, David Alaba, Alphonso Davies, Thiago AlcÃ¡ntara, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Thomas MÃ¼ller, Kingsley Coman, Robert Lewandowski

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The Bayern team bus approaches the Luz stadium in Lisbon ahead of the Champions League soccer final match between PSG and Bayern Munich, Sunday Aug. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) The Associated Press

Fans watch from a distance the PSG team bus approache the Luz stadium in Lisbon ahead of the Champions League soccer final match between PSG and Bayern Munich, Sunday Aug. 23, 2020. The match will be played without spectators and the roads around the stadium were closed to prevent the gathering of supporters. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) The Associated Press

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