The football magicians Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are disenchanted, the treble dream is alive: FC Bayern eliminated the world selection from Paris Saint-Germain in a magical Champions League night thanks to goalkeeper Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and joker Serge Gnabry and gilded his European Cup anniversary with reaching the quarter-finals.
With a little luck and a lot of skill, the Munich team defeated the French champions 2-0 (0-0) in the 500th European Cup game in the club’s history and can continue to hope for the handle pot. Choupo-Moting scored in classic goalscoring style in the 61st minute. Shortly before, a goal by the 33-year-old had been rightly disallowed for being offside (52′). In the 89th minute, Serge Gnabry made it 2-0, Bayern had won the first leg 1-0.
“Especially in the second half we shed our shyness, were clearer in defense,” said Thomas Müller on “DAZN”: “We then played the better game and, I think, deserved to win.”
“The players did a really good job,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann. If his team pairs “maximum greed and emotions” with the “quality we have”, Bayern are “incredibly good”.
The next Bayern opponent on the way to the dream destination Istanbul, where the final will take place on June 10th, will be known when the quarterfinals and semifinals are drawn on March 17th. Among other things in the pot: Dortmund conqueror FC Chelsea.
CEO Oliver Kahn tried immediately before the game to reduce the pressure on Nagelsmann in particular. In this top duel, “little things, tenths of a second, luck in the game,” he said on “DAZN”, “I find it very adventurous to make everything dependent on it. We won’t do that for sure!” Now they don’t have to.
Nagelsmann was in what must have been the biggest duel of his brief Munich era at full steam. He drove his eleven – the same as in the dress rehearsal in Stuttgart (2: 1) – again and again, celebrated won duels with jubilant gestures and argued with the PSG bench. Just defending, he had emphasized, would not work against the offensive power from Paris, although the third world star Neymar (ankle surgery) was missing.
Towering over Upamecano and de Ligt
But it didn’t take two minutes before Mbappé stormed into the penalty area at high speed. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer held his shot. Josip Stanisic, who replaced the suspended Benjamin Pavard on the right-hand side of defence, lost the ball a little later – Messi made his mark for the first time, but was stopped by defender Dayot Upamecano (6′).
And the Bavarians? Initially tried in vain to find their way behind the PSG three-man chain. Leon Goretzka fired the first shot on goal from a distance (16′). On the other hand, Sommer and the strong Matthijs de Ligt saved together against Messi (25th). Paris often found gaps on Munich’s right defence, where Stanisic struggled.
After a short dribble, Jamal Musiala had Bayern’s best chance to take the lead (32′). But Paris didn’t let an injury to captain Marquinhos, who was replaced by former Leipzig player Nordi Mukiele (36th), slow them down either. After a blunder by Sommer, de Ligt saved Vitinha’s shot on the line for his beaten goalkeeper (38′).
Mukiele had to go out again at the break, but this did not change the direction of the French champions. But first, after an irresistible solo by Musiala, a gap opened up for Choupo-Moting. He fell in the penalty area and it wasn’t enough for a penalty (51′).
Mané hit does not count
After the attacker’s offside hit, the German record champions controlled what was happening for the first time over a longer period of time – and capitalized on it. PSG six Marco Verratti lost the ball against the high pressing Thomas Müller and Goretzka. Goretzka served “Mr. Choupo”, who only had to push in.
But Paris did not give up. Sommer had to show all his skills with a header from Sergio Ramos (64th) and remained challenged in the hectic final phase – until Gnabry used a counterattack with nerves of steel. Another goal by Sadio Mané was disallowed for offside (90+4).