Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Champions League meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes. These heavyweight sides, backed as two of the three favourites to go all the way and lift the trophy in Kiev next May, started their group-stage campaigns with comfortable wins last time out to find themselves locked on three points apiece.

With Celtic and Anderlecht expected to battle it out for third place elsewhere, this match could go a long way to determining who comes out on top in Group B. Bayern have lifted the European Cup on five previous occasions, most recently doing so in 2013, while PSG have yet to go all the way on the continent. That simply has to change if they are to turn into a true superpower.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Areola; Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Kurzawa; Verratti, Motta, Rabiot; Mbappe, Cavani, Neymar

SUBS: Trapp, Kimpembe, Meunier, Lo Celso, Di Maria, Moura, Draxler

Starting with a look at the home team, boss Unai Emery has brought Neymar back into the fold following the Brazilian forward's return from a minor injury. The official line from PSG is that Neymar was struggling with a knock and was therefore unable to feature against Montpellier at the weekend, a week on from his on-field spat with attacking teammate Edinson Cavani. Either way, he is back in the starting lineup tonight.

Neymar has racked up goals and assists for fun since making the £198m switch from Barcelona in the summer, while Kylian Mbappe is also up and running with two in four league and European fixtures. Cavani, who has nine in eight, is the third member of arguably the most impressive triumvirate in world football right now. There is no Javier Pastore for PSG tonight due to injury, but Angel di Maria is fit enough for a place among the subs after recovering from a month-long injury.

Adrien Rabiot, Thiago Motta and pass master Marco Verratti combine in midfield, while Thiago Silva and Marquinhos occupy spots in he heart of defence. Dani Alves, brought on board to bring some further Champions League-winning experience to the side, is at right-back, and Layvin Kurzawa starts on the left. Yuri Berchiche played the full 90 minutes against Montpellier last weekend, but he misses out today.

BAYERN MUNICH TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Ulreich; Kimmich, Sule, Martinez, Alaba; Vidal, Thiago, Tolisso; Muller, Rodriguez, Lewandowski

SUBS: Fruchtl, Rafinha, Hummels, Rudy, Robben, Ribery, Coman

No surprises in the PSG starting lineup, then, with Emery fielding his strongest-possible XI in a 4-3-3 formation. There are a few surprises in the Bayern side, however, as Niklas Sule and Javi Martinez are preferred over Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels in the heart of defence. There is a place in the team for David Alaba, who has been absent for the past month through injury, while Joshua Kimmich completes the back four.

Bayern were dealt a serious blow last week with the news that Manuel Neuer is to miss around four months of action through injury, having also missed a chunk of the 2016-17 campaign, meaning that Sven Ulreich will deputise. Elsewhere, Arturo Vidal is back from suspension to take up a spot in what looks likely to be a three-man midfield, alongside Tiago Alcantara and Corentin Tolisso.

Juan Bernat is the other absentee this evening, but Alaba's return to fitness will see him slot in at left-back, with Rafinha providing cover from the bench. Also among the subs are Arjen Robben Franck Ribery and Kingsley Coman, the latter of whom started his career at PSG before moving on to Juventus and then Bayern. A few big calls made by Carlo Ancelotti, then, as he opts for more defence-minded options out wide.

Neymar returns to Paris Saint-Germain's starting lineup this evening after recovering from a minor foot injury that saw him miss the goalless draw with Montpellier at the weekend. Unai Emery has very much gone with his favoured XI, setting them out in a 4-3-3 formation, while opposition number Carlo Ancelotti has made some surprising selection calls. Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben both miss out, as do Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng in defence.

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PSG are seeking to make a serious impact on the continent this season after spending big in the summer, splashing out a combined £366m to recruit Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the latter of whom is officially on loan until the end of the campaign before making his move permanent. Not only did the Parisians fail in their mission of making it to at least the semi-finals of the competition last season, they also let their Ligue 1 crown slip away.

Wrestling back the title from Monaco is hugely important for Emery, who many believe was perhaps a tad fortunate to remain in the job after his first campaign, but going all the way in the Champions League remains the priority. Last season's European campaign ended in real embarrassment, as a 4-0 first-leg lead over Barcelona in the last 16 ended in a truly incredible 6-5 loss come the end of the reverse fixture.

Emery does boast title-winning experience on the continent, though, having guided Sevilla to the Europa League crown three seasons running, before departing for PSG a little over a year ago. The arrival of Mbappe has not only strengthened the Parisians but also weakened their only serious rivals at the top of Ligue 1, while the signing of Neymar well and truly sent a message out to clubs around the world. Now, the task is to justify the huge outlay by winning silverware.

Neymar himself admitted earlier this month that the only way he can justify his decision to leave Barcelona, where he was almost guaranteed to add a constant stream of titles to his collection, is to win the Champions League with PSG over the next five years. The Brazilian forward has provided some additional stardust since joining and, in his absence, the club dropped their first points of the campaign last time out.

PSG had won their first six Ligue 1 fixtures, scoring 21 goals in the process, heading into Saturday's showdown with Montpellier. On the back of the falling out between Neymar and Cavani a week beforehand against Lyon, however, the Parisians struggled without their star man and had to settle for a solitary point. Scoring does not tend to be a problem for them when 'MCN' start, however, having hit five or more in a game three times this season already.

Emery's men also put five past Celtic in their opening Champions League fixture 15 days ago, justifying the hype that has surrounded them from the moment Neymar arrived in early August. PSG certainly lived up to their billing at Celtic Park, brushing aside their opponents thanks to a goal apiece for their forward players in the opening 45 minutes. In truth, they could have had more if they remained in top gear in the second half.

DID YOU KNOW? Paris Saint-Germain boast an impressive record at the Parc des Princes, losing just one of their last 43 European fixtures since a 4-2 defeat here at the hands of Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2006-07. The loss in question? That came against Barcelona a couple of years back, as PSG once again came unstuck against the Catalan giants. Pre-tournament, however, the bookies had the Parisians at shorter odds than Barca to win the competition this year.

Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti has experience of winning the Champions League, doing so on three separate occasions. His mission is to do the same at the Allianz Arena, with the Bavarian giants going four years since last lifting the famous trophy. The Italian's job, if reports are to be believed, could well depend on it.

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It has been a disappointing start to the campaign for Bayern by their own high standards, as a stuttered start has seen them drop five points already. A 2-2 draw at home to Wolfsburg last time out, in a game that saw them take a convincing two-goal lead into the break, has allowed Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim - the one side to have so far taken all three points from them - to move into the top two spot.

The five-time European winners could well face a task winning the Bundesliga for a sixth year in a row, but they are still much-fancied to come out on top come next May. Winning the German top flight is very much par for the course when it comes to the Bavarians, though - lifting the Champions League is the true barometer of just how successful each campaign has been.

There is talk in the German press that Ancelotti could be ousted as early as December when the winter break comes around, though it seems more likely that it will be more of a mutual split come the summer. Ancelotti has not done a bad job at the Allianz Arena, as such, but he fell short in the German Cup and Champions League during his maiden campaign at the club, instead just winning the Bundesliga.

Julian Nagelsmann is the current frontrunner to succeed Ancelotti if he does indeed make way, having worked wonders during his time at Hoffenheim. Bayern have work to do in the Bundesliga if they are to move back to the summit, then, with three points a must when they travel to Hertha Berlin, who have had a very mixed start in terms of results. Things have gone well in the Champions League so far, meanwhile, thanks to a 3-0 win over Anderlecht two weeks ago.

That scoreline was a little flattering, in truth, as Bayern made tough work of seeing off the Belgian champions. It was a case of job done as far as Ancelotti is concerned, though, with the three-goal win against the 10-man visitors putting his team alongside PSG in the race for top spot in Group B. Goal difference could well come into the equation, in which case the Parisians - five-goal winners at Celtic - are better positioned.

Next up for Bayern after this tough test is a double-header against Celtic which, on paper, should provide them with a further six points. Not until the final matchday do these two sides face off again, possibly being a decider for top spot and what should be an easier last-16 tie. Judging by the visitors' starting lineup tonight, with Ribery and Robben overlooked, a point is the target for them.

Over 2.5 goals have been scored in eight of Bayern's last nine Champions League ties and the same number in each of PSG's last eight. The visitors have scored at least twice in two of their last eight fixtures in this competition, meanwhile, and they have also netted 14 times in their first six Bundesliga games. Hoffenheim are the only team to stop them finding a way through in all competitions so far.

There is no doubt that Bayern boast serious pedigree on the European stage, with five crowns to their name, but since going all the way in 2013 they have had mixed fortunes on the continent. Reaching the knockout phase is a certainty when it comes to the Bavarians, though, having made it out of the group stage in each of the last nine seasons. Winning away has proved to be a problem for them - just two victories in eight Euro ties away from the Allianz Arena.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! These two sides have met on six previous occasions, with Paris Saint-Germain winning four and losing two. They have not faced each other since the 2000-01 group stage, however, when they shared a win apiece on home soil. Bayern Munich have played French opposition 31 times down the years, winning 17 and losing nine, while PSG have won eight and lost three of 13 matches against German teams.

With kickoff at the Parc des Princes now less than five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Unai Emery: "Many of our players are capable [of taking penalties]. Many of them also want to. Edinson [Cavani] and Neymar are ready. There will be plenty of penalties and both will benefit from that. I have spoken with both of them. I have told them how things will work from here."

Carlo Ancelotti: "Robert [Lewandowski] still has four more years on his contract. I think he will end his career at Bayern. It's true that we haven't had a perfect start to the season. Wednesday is an important, prestigious match for us, but it is not decisive. Obviously, we want to win and finish top of the group - that's our objective."

Emery was inevitably asked to comment on the Neymar-Cavani situation, which he hopes has now blown over. Should one of them net this evening, we can surely expect a show of unity when it comes to celebrating the goal. Bayern marksman Lewandowski has been linked with a move away in recent times, meanwhile, but Ancelotti is adamant that the Poland international is going nowhere, even going as far to suggest that he will remain in place for the rest of his career.

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KICKOFF! We are up and running in the French capital in what is one of the standout ties of the whole group stage. Both teams made winning starts to their Champions League campaigns last time out, setting this one up nicely.

An absolute horror start for the visitors, as they find themselves a goal down inside the opening 90 seconds. Neymar created it, taking the ball past a couple of players and laying it off nicely for a totally unmarked Alves to belt past Ulreich.

Shocking defending from the German outfit, allowing Neymar to waltz through and then pick out Alves who had nobody around him. The full-back's first touch actually looked to have let him down, but Ulreich was not on the ball quickly enough.

PSG completely dominating proceedings at the moment, buoyed by that Alves strike inside the opening couple of minutes. Surely just a matter of time until Bayern, 3-0 winners against Anderlecht a fortnight ago, wake up.

Bayern seeing more of the ball now as they attempt to bring themselves back on level terms. The PSG defenders have not had a great deal to do so far, with Alves's opener giving the hosts confidence to get bodies forward.

CHANCE! Good play from Rodriguez to get to the byline and loft the ball into the box, where Rabiot was waiting to knock it behind. A chance comes and goes from Muller from the next attack, as he fails to turn the ball on goal from close range.

Bayern have looked much better over the last five minutes or so, creating a couple of opportunities. Muller is currently off the field receiving some treatment following a coming together in the box - his leg appears to be badly cut.

Muller is now back on the field following some treatment to his cut leg. Fifteen minutes of the match played at the Parc des Princes and it is evenly-balanced on the whole, though Alves's early strike has given PSG a slender lead.

SAVE! Brilliant save from Alphonse Areola to deny Javi Martinez. The Spaniard hit the ball perfectly from the edge of the D and it was heading for the back of the net if not for the PSG stopper's big hand to help it over the bar.

Bayern the side on top now as they desperately seek a leveller. Barely seen anything from Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe in an attacking sense since Alves opened the scoring 17 minutes ago. Home fans getting right behind their side now.

YELLOW CARD! The first caution of the match is shown to Kimmich for his late challenge on Rabiot, though he is smiling as the referee initially picked out his red card by mistake. Prior to that, Lewandowski's header was easily dealt with and Neymar was through if not for a poor touch.

The match is really starting to open up now. Neymar has already had one chance to burst through which he failed to make the most of, though it is Bayern who are edging things at the moment as Lewandowski blasts a cross right through the box.

CLOSE! The visiting side really starting to turn the screw now, but at the same time they are leaving plenty of gaps at the back. Mbappe breaks and has Neymar and Cavani alongside him, opting for the latter who drags wide of the target.

It has been an entertaining opening half an hour or so to the contest, which PSG lead through Alves's strike inside the opening 90 minutes. PSG currently knocking the ball around, perhaps looking to take some sting out of the match.

SHOT! Bayern have returned from France with victory on each of their last three visits, incidentally, but as things stand they are heading for defeat here. Lewandowski gets a shot away, which lacked power and precision.

I said not so long ago that PSG's front three have been a little quiet on the whole - well right on cue, Mbappe laid the ball off for Cavani to tuck past Ulreich from right on the edge of the box. Nice finish from the Uruguayan striker to double his side's advantage.

Areola looking a little nervy when crosses come into his box, but on this occasion Bayern cannot capitalise. Cavani now into double figures for the season in terms of goals, with his latest effort a real belter to put his side in command.

The scoreline is a little harsh on the German visitors, in fairness, as they did well to create a few chances when initially falling behind early on. A failure to take those openings has ultimately cost them, though, with 36 minutes now played.

CHANCE! Glorious chance for Cavani to kill off Bayern before half time. Mbappe pulled the ball back and Cavani had acres of space in front of him with just Ulreich to beat, but the visiting keeper kept the ball out down low.

Bayern do look as though they have a goal or two in them, but the problem for them is that PSG could quite easily net a couple more themselves. The Parisians scored three before the break a couple of weeks back when facing Celtic, remember.

PSG lead 2-0 at the Parc des Princes in this Champions League group-stage tie, thanks to goals from Alves and Cavani. The hosts have had chances to further add to their tally, while Bayern have also squandered a couple of openings.

Bayern building some momentum as we head into the closing stages of the first half. A couple of corners ultimately come to nothing, though, with Sule driving the ball over the bar via a deflection. Can they find a route back into the game?

Spanish official Antonio Mateu Lahoz blows for half time, with Paris Saint-Germain sitting on a two-goal lead against Bayern Munich. The visitors created more chances overall in the opening 45 minutes but they failed to take them, while PSG proved to be far more clinical.

PSG were ahead with less than 90 seconds played thanks to a Dani Alves strike, coming at the end of a skillful run from Neymar that took a number of Bayern players out of the equation. Alves was left with the task of belting past Sven Ulreich from close range, which he managed to do so despite a heavy first touch which allowed stand-in stopper Ulreich to close the angle.

The visitors were creating more chances than their opponents, one of which fell the way of Thomas Muller 12 minutes in as he failed to turn a right-sided cross on target. Alphonse Areola needed to be alert soon after to keep out a half-volley from Javi Martinez from the edge of the D, while up the other end Edinson Cavani dragged wide following a swift PSG counter.

Breaking forward in numbers was proving to be a smart tactic for the French outfit, particularly paying off 32 minutes in when Kylian Mbappe burst into the box and held the ball up for Cavani, who in turn sent the ball flying past Ulreich from right on the edge of the area. Cavani really should have killed the game off before the interval, only to see his one-on-one attempt kept out by Ulreich as Bayern again fell apart at the back in the absence of Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels.

Plenty for Carlo Ancelotti to ponder at the interval, then, and it would not be at all surprising to see him make a change at the interval. Bayern did create openings in the first half, but they were also incredibly open at the back so another midfielder could be introduced.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBS: Trapp, Kimpembe, Meunier, Lo Celso, Di Maria, Moura, Draxler

BAYERN MUNICH SUBS: Fruchtl, Rafinha, Hummels, Rudy, Robben, Ribery, Coman

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RESTART! We are back under way at the Allianz Arena, where Ancelotti has indeed made a couple of alterations at the break. Paris-born attacker Kingsley Coman is brought on, as is Sebastian Rudy, with Tolisso and Rodriguez the men to make way.

A goal for Bayern will certainly make things interesting, and you would not bet against them finding one, but they could equally concede a few more themselves. Either way, there are surely more goals to come in this second half.

OFF THE LINE! Five minutes of the second half played and it is Bayern who have been on top so far. If not for a Silva block off the line, Martinez would have given his side the lead from a shot inside the box. PSG counter and Neymar blasts horribly high and wide from seven yards out.

A familiar theme developing in Paris - Bayern seeing plenty of the ball and creating some decent openings, before PSG counter. Not quite sure how we have only seen two goals so far, with both teams squandering chances aplenty.

CHANCE! Sule is the latest to see a chance come and go. Areola once again refuses to come and collect the corner, allowing the Bayern centre-back to get his head on the ball at the back post, but he failed to keep his attempt down.

CLOSE! Non-stop action now, as Neymar takes the shot on rather than picking out a teammate, curling the ball narrowly wide of the target from the edge of the box. A third goal is close to arriving - which way it goes is anyone's guess.

Areola look incredibly nervous whenever the ball comes into the box. PSG have somehow got away with it so far, but it is surely just a matter of time before Bayern - with a truly incredible 14 corners already - take full advantage.

SAVE! Great defending from Bayern to deny Cavani from tapping the ball home towards the back post. Prior to that, Areola did well to get down and keep out a Rudy shot from range. This gripping second half is flying by at the moment!

SAVE! £198m forward Neymar was always the favourite to take on this free kick from 25 yards out, which he gets up and over the wall for Ulreich to easily collect. Alcantara the latest visiting player to be cautioned for his challenge.

Superb play from Mbappe to weave his way through, before seeing his cross helped over the line by Neymar. Bayern yet again caught out by a quick counter, with their backline failing to stop Mbappe's run and then the subsequent cross.

GOAL DISALLOWED! A very tight one this, as Vidal is flagged for offside after helping Lewandowski's knockdown over the line. The officials did appear to get the call correct, despite Bayern's protestations - fine margins!

This match is all over thanks to Neymar's goal, but PSG are not going to simply run the clock down. Alves is picked out in acres of space once again but, unlike in the first half when belting home, he this time fires wide of the target.

YELLOW CARD! Verratti gets his challenge wrong and becomes the first home player to be shown a yellow card. Alves, close to scoring a second moments ago, is currently down injured after being clattered into by two opposition players.

Bayern almost resigned to defeat now, as we enter the final 17 minutes of the match. Should they pull one back then we may have a game on our hands again, but as things stand PSG are cruising over the line with three vital points.

Robben, brought on for Muller a few minutes ago, is already having an impact on the game. Some good interplay down the right culminated in a cross coming into the area, where Coman was waiting to meet the ball but fluffed his lines.

YELLOW CARD! Sebastian Rudy wipes out Neymar and is therefore the fourth Bayern player to enter the referee's book. Mbappe gets a standing ovation as he makes way, with Angel di Maria the man to come on in his place.

PSG win another free kick from a good shooting position, which Cavani this time has the honour of taking. Not the worst attempt, but the ball ended a good yard wide of the target in the end. PSG looking to add a fourth before the game is out.

We are into the final 10 minutes of the match at the Parc des Princes. The contest is all but over, in truth, and it could have got worse for the visitors as Rudy has somehow avoided being shown a second yellow following a succession of fouls.

Rabiot has a pop from the edge of the box, sending the ball closer to the corner flag than the back of the net. Barely seen Bayern in an attacking sense since going three down, as they resign themselves to a heavy loss in Paris.

Neymar catches Sule late and is fortunate to avoid seeing a yellow card. The match just starting to boil over a little now following a flurry of Bayern tackles, with five players already entering referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz's notebook.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUB! Emery has held out until the closing minutes to make his second change, bringing on Lo Celso for Motta. This match is petering out now, as has been the case from the moment the third goal was scored.

SAVE! Three or four minutes likely to be added on by Antonio Mateu Lahoz at the end, so Bayern are nearly out of their misery. Still time for PSG to add a fourth, but Coman almost got one back at the other end as he forced Areola into a save.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUB! A little surprising that Verratti was kept on for this long, with the game as good as over for 25 minutes now. Julian Draxler is the man introduced in his place to help see through the final seconds.

The full-time whistle sounds at the Parc des Princes, meaning a straightforward 3-0 victory for Paris Saint-Germain in the end. Bayern Munich had their chances at various points in the match, but they could not find a way through and now have it all to do if they are to finish at the top of Group B.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events in Paris. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while a recap of all the night's other scores can be viewed right here. Thanks for joining!