It is time to seriously consider Bayern Munich as a strong candidate for the UEFA Champions League championship this year. The Bundesliga giants are showing their destructive form on their journey towards the final in May in Budapest.
The brave 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain right at the Parc des Princes was the clearest proof of the "Gray Tigers'" ambition.
Defeating PSG away from home was an extremely difficult task, but Bayern did it in a 10-man position. Luis Diaz - who scored both goals - was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Achraf Hakimi.
Against the European champions and also one of the strongest teams in the world, Bayern showed incredible flexibility. The first half of the team's attack was beautiful, while the second half showed resilience and practicality.
All are connected by the steel spirit of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is about to turn 40 but is still a solid support in goal. In addition, there is Harry Kane, who is always ready to drop deep to support the defense to preserve the victory. This result helped Bayern extend their 16-match winning streak in all competitions - an achievement that makes the whole of Europe wary.
"The most important thing for me, and I always remind the players, is that when people praise them, don't believe they are that good. And when people criticize you, don't think you are that bad.
We have won 16 matches, but tomorrow, everything will return to zero. The next match is the important one. However, defending a 10-point gap is a mark that we need to maintain throughout the season" - coach Vincent Kompany shared after Bayern Munich's impressive win over PSG.
Before Luis Diaz was sent off in the first half, Bayern stunned PSG with sharp counter-attacks. The Colombian, a £65.5m signing from Liverpool, scored twice to help the visitors lead 2-0 in the first 45 minutes.
Kompany's Bayern dominating PSG is really impressive, especially with Ligue 1 champions only missing Desire Doue due to injury and Joao Neves being left out of the starting lineup. The six-time European champions show that they are not only strong in attack but also solid in defense - the balance that helps them become the number one candidate for the Champions League title.
It is easy to underestimate Bayern Munich's dominance in the domestic arena, having won Bundesliga 12 in the last 13 seasons.
However, their nine consecutive wins this season - including convincing wins over Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen - are proof of their incredible stability under Kompany. However, the Champions League is the place to show true class, and Bayern have shown that they are ready to compete with the strongest teams.
From a 3-1 win over Chelsea in the opening match to defeating PSG right at the Parc des Princes, the "Gray Tigers" showed the control of the game and the bravery of a big team. With their current form, they are capable of defeating any opponent - including the "big guys" such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid or Manchester City.
Although everyone is confident in their own strength, at this time, no team can say that they are stronger than Bayern Munich.
"The Champions League title has not yet been decided at this time, otherwise PSG would not have won last season. The important thing is to get to the next round, get through the group stage and maintain this form until the end of the season," Kompany added.
