Pundit calls for Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka to start over Aleksandar Pavlović vs. Paris Saint-Germain

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 28: (L-R) Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munchen, Joao Neves of Paris Saint Germain during the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint Germain v Bayern Munchen at the Parc des Princes on April 28, 2026 in Paris France (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images Mario Basler has wealth of experience as a player and coach, which has helped make him a valuable pundit for football shows. To be a personality on one of those, you have to have takes — and Basler has one that is scorching hot ahead of Bayern Munich’s Champions League tilt against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. If Basler could make a tweak to Vincent Kompany’s lineup, it would be to start Leon Goretzka over Aleksandar Pavlović (as captured by Goal ): “I’m sorry he’s leaving Bayern Munich.

It pains me to see him leave,” Basler told ‘Doppelpass’ on Sport1. The 57-year-old believes Goretzka would still be a valuable asset to the German record champions, so he urged manager Vincent Kompany to start the 31-year-old in Tuesday’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Basler cannot understand why Goretzka’s teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic was preferred in the holding midfield role as early as the first leg against the French side.

In his view, Goretzka is “the more reliable” option and should therefore start in the second leg. He also labelled it “nonsense” for Munich to risk losing the midfielder on a free transfer rather than extending his expiring contract. “I find that incomprehensible.

He has all the right qualities, both defensively and offensively. That’s why I can’t understand why they’re letting him go,” the 57-year-old railed against his former club. Basler’s view of Goretzka has not always been so positive: during a 2018 Doppelpass segment he questioned whether the midfielder could establish himself at Säbener Straße after his move from FC Schalke 04.