Bayern Munich 2-3 Paris Saint Germain: Three Things We Learned

A cracking UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg ended 3-2 to Paris Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening.

Kylian Mbappe gave the visitors the perfect start, with Manuel Neuer not able to deal with his low shot from Neymar’s ball. Fellow Brazilian Marquinhos then doubled the lead on the half-hour mark. However, the hosts earned some hope back just before the break through Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting before Thomas Muller drew the reigning European champions level midway through the second-half.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men were not to be denied though as Mbappe doubled his evening’s work with an exquisite second to seal victory for PSG.

Here are three things we learned from the game:

Bayern’s unbeaten run over as PSG earn revenge

This could really be a landmark victory for Paris Saint Germain. Not only did they manage to avenge their Champions League final defeat to Bayern last season, but they also showed their intentions to go even further in this competition.

Beating Bayern Munich, especially at the Allianz Arena, is no easy task but Mauricio Pochettino’s troops managed it in style. It also ended the German’s lengthy unbeaten run of 19 matches in the competition – their last defeat coming in the form of a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool back in March 2019.

Hansi Flick’s men certainly have it all to do if they wish to retain the title that they won against Paris Saint Germain, whilst the French giants will hope to seal this tie back on home soil in just a weeks’ time.

As it stands, PSG can be backed at a price of 9/2 with William Hill to lift the trophy come the end of the campaign whilst Bayern sit slightly behind at 11/2.

Clinical Kylian

The superlatives really are running out for the absolutely exhilarating Kylian Mbappe. At the age of just 22 years, the Frenchman really has propelled himself into the world football’s elite and he certainly looks set to stay considering the number of fantastic performances he continues to produce in the UEFA Champions League – his display at the Allianz Arena being another one to add to the list.

His first goal was a typically clinical finish as he stayed onside just long enough to latch onto Neymar’s ball and tuck home past Neuer. Mbappe’s second strike was also equally brilliant as he showed wonderful composure to bamboozle substitute Jerome Boateng before tucking into the near post with his right foot.

With his brace in Bavaria, the former AS Monaco man now has eight goals in eight games in Europe this season and he could certainly be a huge reason behind the Parisians going one better than last season.

Navas to the rescue

Whilst Mbappe turned in a truly stunning display in Munich, the visitors were equally, if not more indebted to goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Despite having been beaten twice during the game, the Colombian’s performance was absolutely brilliant.

He produced a stunning 11 saves throughout the match, some of them spectacular. He was a huge reason behind the Parisians frustrating their hosts and claiming what could be a huge first-leg victory.

For comparison, Bayern stopper Manuel Neuer could only contribute one save of his own and had huge culpability for the opener by allowing Mbappe’s low shot to squirm through him and into the back of the net.

Match Report

Bayern Munich: Neuer (5); Alaba (6), Sule (5) (Boateng (5), 42′), Hernandez (6), Pavard (6); Kimmich (6), Goretzka (5) (Davies (5), 33′); Coman (5), Muller (7), Sane (6), Choupo-Moting (7).

Paris Saint Germain: Navas (8); Dagba (7), Diallo (6) (Bakka (7), 45′), Kimpembe (7), Marquinhos (7) (Herrera (6), 30′); Danilo (6), Gueye (7); Di Maria (7) (Kean (6), 71′), Draxler (6), Neymar (7) (Rafinha (N/A), 90′), Mbappe (8).

Goals: Mbappe (3′, 68′), Marquinhos (28′), Choupo-Moting (37′), Muller (68′)

Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz

Yellow Cards: Hernandez (36′), Draxler (62′) Kimmich (70′)

Red Cards: N/A