FC Bayern’s hopes of defending their Champions League title were dashed in Tuesday’s quarter-final return leg away to Paris Saint-Germain. Although Bayern won 1-0 on the night thanks to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s goal before half-time, the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate, with the Frenchmen advancing on away goals.
The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Jérôme Boateng, Lucas Hernández and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Thomas Müller and Kingsley Coman, with Choupo-Moting up front. Jamal Musiala took over from Davies with 20 minutes to go, Javi Martínez coming on for Choupo-Moting in the closing stages.
Choupo on target
The first half was an evenly-matched affair with chances for both sides. Kylian Mbappé fired wide before Choupo-Moting was unable to turn a Coman cutback goalwards. Neuer made a fine save against Neymar, and an Alaba cutback soon found Kimmich, whose first touch let him down. Sané and Kimmich fired wide from 20 yards, but PSG enjoyed a spell in command now.
Neuer denied Neymar and directed another effort by the Brazilian onto the post. An Ángel Di María free-kick was blocked, Neymar hitting the crossbar this time. A Kimmich through-ball only just evaded Choupo-Moting at the other end, but Mbappé soon squared to Neymar, who was denied by the woodwork for a third time when his shot crashed off the post. The holders took the lead against the run of play, Alaba seeing his effort parried by keeper Keylor Navas, but Choupo-Moting was on hand to head home. Mbappé fired wide, Navas making a strong save to deny an Alaba belter and denying Sané, and the sides turned round with the scores level on aggregate.
No further goals
Alaba fired wide before a Neymar shot went over the bar, Neuer beating Mbappé to a through-ball. A Di María square evaded Neymar in the box, Müller drawing a save from Navas. A Coman cross evaded friend and foe alike, and Bayern still needed a goal to go through.
It was PSG who had the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman’s flag was raised when Mbappé slotted past Neuer on the break. Sané’s cross-cum-shot floated wide, Coman and Müller seeing efforts blocked. Neuer beat Neymar to an Mbappé square in the frantic closing stages, Navas picking up a Sané square, and match official Daniele Orsato blew for full-time.
Bayern will be back in action on Saturday, when they travel to face Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen
