Champions League: Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies says reaching final ‘dream come true’

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Alphonso Davies (right) was born in a refugee camp in Ghana in 2000

Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies says reaching the Champions League final is “a dream come true”.

Davies, 19, joined Bayern from Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019 for a then Major League Soccer record £9.84m

He is set to become the first Canada international to play in the final of Europe’s elite club competition.

“Playing in the Champions League and getting to the final is everything you could ask for,” he told BT Sport after the 3-0 semi-final win over Lyon.

German giants Bayern will be aiming to win their sixth European Cup against French champions Paris St-Germain – who are playing in their first final – on Sunday (20:00 BST).

The Bundesliga club saw off Lyon to reach the showpiece for the 11th time – albeit for the first time in seven years – with another superb attacking display on Wednesday.

Davies, who also impressed in the 4-1 win over Chelsea in the last 16 and the 8-2 quarter-final demolition of Barcelona, says his side will be “hungry” to see out the season in style.

“PSG are a good team. Right now we celebrate a bit, then we focus on the next game,” he added.

“It will be a good game – there will be goals in that game. This is what you dream about as a footballer: playing with the best and against the best in Europe.

“It is a dream come true. Even though they [the older players in the squad] have won many many titles before they are still hungry to win this one.”

A winner’s medal would also be a fine conclusion to the season for Davies, who asked to swap shirts with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi after their last-eight tie.

“I asked for it [Messi’s shirt]. But I think he was a little bit upset. Next time, maybe,” he added.

Bayern’s big numbers

Victory on Sunday would cap a truly stellar season for Bayern, who have already posted some impressive stats:

  • Coach Hansi Flick’s side have now won 10 consecutive games in the Champions League, equalling the longest winning streak by a team in the competition’s history (achieved by Real Madrid in 2015 and Bayern themselves in 2013).
  • They are on the longest unbeaten run across Europe’s top five league’s (P29 W28 D1 L0), scoring 97 goals during this run (3.4 per game) and winning their past 20.
  • They are only the fourth team in Champions League history to surpass 40 goals in a single campaign. Only Barcelona in 1999-2000 have netted more in a season in the competition (45) than Bayern’s 42 this time.
  • They already have two trophies this season, scoring 100 goals to win their 30th Bundesliga title before also claiming the German Cup.
  • Sunday’s final will be their 11th in the European Cup, equalling AC Milan’s tally. Only Real Madrid (16) having featured in more.
  • Striker Robert Lewandowski has become only the second player in the history of the Champions League to score 15 goals in a single campaign, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has done so three times.

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