Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital on Tuesday night. The Germans needed just one goal to take the lead in the Champions League round of 16.
The matchup between the two European powerhouses is perhaps the best matchup of the knockout rounds so far. After all, both Bayern and PSG currently lead their domestic leagues and are regularly a mainstay in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Both teams are also within the top five UEFA club coefficient rankings.
Despite the star power of the two sides, Warren Zaire-Emery made headlines before the game. PSG boss Christophe Galtier started the 16-year-old in midfield. Zaire-Emery became the youngest player to start a Champions League knockout match when the match began.
The visitors dominated the vast majority of the first half hour of the game. Bayern had more than 60% possession and all six shots of the game up to that point. However, the German giants were unable to take advantage of the initial dominance. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was not forced to make a save until a few minutes before half time.
PSG also took 45 minutes to register their first shot of the night. Superstar Lionel Messi, however, hit the wall from a free kick just outside the Bayern box. It was PSG’s most recent first shot in a Champions League game since sports data company Opta began tracking statistics.
Coman scores against former club
However, Bayern were able to break the tie eight minutes into the second half. Former PSG winger Kingsley Coman scored against the club he spent a decade with during his youth development. Coman put the ball into the back of the net from close range and chose not to celebrate. Questions could be asked of Donnarumma, after the ball essentially passed through his hands. The 6’5 goalkeeper had a hard time getting down in time to make the block.
Mbappé goal ruled out; PSG falls short against Bayern
PSG thought they had leveled the score in the 82nd minute of the game thanks to super substitute Kylian Mbappé. Nuno Mendes made a great run and then returned the ball straight into the path of Mbappé for the goal. However, VAR intervened and ruled that Mendes was slightly offside when he first received the ball.
Coman’s goal turned out to be the only goal of the match. PSG looked significantly better when Mbappé entered the fray on 57 minutes, but couldn’t find an answer to Bayern’s goal. Benjamin Pavard was sent off in added time after receiving his second yellow card of the match.
Bayern will now take a one-goal lead at home to Germany. However, PSG managed to beat Bayern the last time they met in Munich. The two teams previously played in a 2020/21 quarter-final matchup. PSG advanced in that tie on away goals. They will then play the second leg of the current matchup on March 8.
PHOTO: IMAGO / RHR-Photo
