Largely dominated in the first period by Bayern Munich, PSG lost this Tuesday, February 14 in the round of 16 first leg (1-0). The Parisians recovered at the end of the game and Kylian Mbappé was denied two goals for offside.
In an atmosphere of crisis, PSG approached its first big meeting of the start of the year with the Champions League, against Bayern Munich for the round of 16 first leg. And the Parisians had to demonstrate that in recent weeks, with an elimination from the Coupe de France by Marseille and a largely lost match against Monaco in Ligue 1, did not reflect the quality of a team capable of winning its first European Cup. .
Three consecutive defeats for PSG
With Kylian Mbappé on the bench, the capital club struggled to exist from the start of the game, while Bayern needed just seconds to secure the first strike, by former Paris player Eric Choupo Moting. The powerful attempt from the right passes just next to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s cage. The Cameroonian international then misses an opportunity with a header after a cross from Kingsley Coman, narrowly beaten by Nuno Mendes (30th).
While the half hour of play has passed, the public at the Parc des Princes are still waiting for a shot from their team. Bayern already have seven, including a shot on target. In the 43rd minute, Kimmich recovers a ball and frames from the right to the ground. Donnarumma blocks it.
From this first period, we will remember that the Parisian Warren Zaire-Emery became the youngest starting player in the Champions League in a knockout match, at 16 years and 343 days. And that Bayern has largely stifled the Parisians.
Kylian Mbappé and Paris actually played 15 minutes
More daring at the start of the second half, PSG finally set foot on the ball. Except that Bayern validates its domination with the opener of Kingsley Coman who unlocks his counter this season in four appearances in the Champions League. Coman takes advantage of a cross from Davies at the far post to deceive Donnarumma with a flat foot on the fly (53rd). Kingsley Coman has again played a very bad trick on his training club. Three years ago in Lisbon, he crucified PSG on an unstoppable header at the far post, depriving it of a European title that has become an obsession since its takeover in 2011 by Qatar.
Eric Choupo-Moting is not far from doubling the bet, with a ball deflected by Donnarumma which touches the post (63rd). A minute later, it was the turn of Benjamin Pavard who, with a header from a corner, forced Donnarumma to dive to save his cage. Entering the game in the 57th minute in place of Carlos Soler, Kylian Mbappé fails to make the difference. Coach Galtier’s lethal weapon was denied a first goal for offside in the 74th minute. Then a second in the 82nd minute as PSG pushes and Bayern are suffering.
Paris will have been dangerous for fifteen minutes, in vain. A year after its cruel elimination in the round of 16 by Real Madrid, PSG is still asking questions.