Bayern Munich wins at Paris Saint-Germain: bored, enchanted, trembling

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Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting missed the 2-0

Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Change first, then score:

Kingsley Coman was Bayern Munich's most dangerous offensive player in the first half.

Substituting Alphonso Davies at the break saw him move from the left to the right wing.

In the 53rd minute, Davies crossed from the left to Coman, who was now coming in on the right, and Gianluigi Donnarumma's volley didn't look good to make it 1-0.

Coman again!

He had already decided the 2020 Champions League final for Bayern against his former club.

Result:

FC Bayern Munich won the round of 16 of the Champions League 1-0 (0-0) at Paris Saint-Germain.

Here is the match report.

The second leg will take place on March 8th (9 p.m. / TV: Dazn).

Messi plays, Mbappé doesn't:

The secrecy surrounding the injuries of the two PSG superstars ended an hour before kick-off: world champion Messi began, World Cup runner-up Kylian Mbappé took a seat on the bench.

First half:

Even without their strongest counterattack, PSG gave the ball to Munich and lurked in their own penalty area for the opportunity to counterattack quickly.

The fact that these did not take place was due to Bayern's reliable passing game and the hosts' faulty play structure.

Since the Munich team did not take any risks against an uncertain PSG, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (30th minute) had a chance to head the ball and Joshua Kimmich tried from 20 meters (43rd).

The statisticians counted 9:1 shots on goal for the guests, none of which was really dangerous.

Tactics between the coaches:

PSG coach Galtier recently flirted with a return to the back three, which, like the usual 4-3-3, was not used.

Instead, he sent his team onto the pitch with a 4-4-2.

Julian Nagelsmann not only flirted, he also relied on stability with three players in the back row.

Winter signings João Cancelo and Kingsley Coman should focus on the flanks and occupy the strong PSG full-backs defensively.

This worked sometimes more (Coman), sometimes less (Cancelo).

Fresh blood:

A squad peppered with superstars – and then coach Christophe Galtier offered a very young man in the starting XI.

At 16 years and 343 days, Warren Zaïre-Emery, born in 2006, is now the youngest player to start a Champions League knockout game.

Curious: his team-mates Sergio Ramos and Messi had already made their first appearance in the premier class before Zaïre-Emery was born.

Second half:

After the goal to make it 1-0 (53'), Coman almost followed it up with an assist to make it 2-0, but Choupo-Moting's side kick was not placed enough (60').

Three minutes later, Donnarumma deflected a shot from Choupo-Moting sensationally against the post and in the ensuing corner he saved Benjamin Pavard's header.

Bayern had everything under control - until substitute Mbappé escaped once.

Yann Sommer reacted brilliantly against the attacker running towards him (73').

PSG were finally in the game, driven by the 24-year-old.

Mbappé then scored in the 82nd minute, but the preparer Nuno Mendes had previously been flagged for offside.

Messi and Vitinha missed more good chances.

In added time, Bayern defender Pavard saw yellow-red (90 + 1).

Bayern fans are not Neymar:

The Bayern fans who traveled with them protested against the high entrance fees in the guest block with banners.

»70 euros?

We're still not Neymar, "it read.

In terms of content, there is nothing wrong with these statements.

Happy or angry?

Up to 20 minutes before the end, the 1-0 was actually not enough for the Munich team.

PSG sometimes staggered across the field like a battered boxer, without Mbappé in full possession of his strength Bayern should have given the opponent the knockout blow.

Because what threatens them in the second leg, you saw in the final phase of the game.

The way Mbappé alone pushed PSG's game, embarrassing the guest defense, that was world class.

For the second leg, Nagelsmann has to reorganize again because, thanks to Pavard's dismissal, he lacks the third man needed for the back three.

Nevertheless, it was an important win at the site of one of the greatest successes in Bayern history: In 1975, Beckenbauer, Müller & Co. won the European Cup by beating Leeds United 2-0 in the Prinzenpark.