FC Bayern fell 3-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg. Kylian Mbappé and Marquinhos handed PSG a two-goal lead, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting pulling one back before half-time. Thomas Müller levelled the scores on the hour mark, but Mbappé soon restored the away side’s lead, and Bayern’s unbeaten run of 19 Champions League matches came to an end despite their dominant display and wealth of chances.
The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Süle, David Alaba and Lucas Hernández in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Müller and Kingsley Coman, with Choupo-Moting up front. Süle and Goretzka had to be replaced with injuries in the first half, Jérôme Boateng and Alphonso Davies taking over.
Choupo pulls one back
Bayern hit the ground running, Hernández calling keeper Keylor Navas into action before a Choupo-Moting header hit the bar, but an early setback came when PSG scored on the break, Neymar teeing up Mbappé, who beat Neuer from close range. Kimmich put a free-kick into the wall before the Frenchmen had the ball in the net for a second time, Draxler smashing in, but the linesman had his flag up.
Navas denied Goretzka and Pavard, but the clinical Parisians doubled the lead when a perceptive Neymar pass found the unmarked Marquinhos, who fired past Neuer. Bayern pulled one back before half-time, a Pavard cross finding Choupo-Moting, who headed in against his former club. Müller tested Navas, and match official Matéu Lahoz blew for half-time.
Bogeyman Mbappé
Neuer denied Neymar, Davies scrambling Mbappé’s rebound off the goal-line, but Bayern peppered the goal with shots now. Navas denied Alaba, Pavard and Coman before Sané fired over the bar, but a goal was coming and arrived when Kimmich whipped a free-kick into the box, Müller flicking past Navas.
The day turned sour when Mbappé charged down the left and blasted inside the near post. Navas beat Coman to a loose ball before Alaba fired inches wide. Müller miscued an effort and Alaba headed over, and Munich’s rally was destined to go unrewarded.
Bayern will be back in action in just three days, when they entertain Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. FCB and PSG will meet again in the second leg next Tuesday as the German record champions look to overturn the deficit in the French capital.
Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen
