PSG 5 Bayern Munich 4
Up there with the best games I’ve ever watched. I don’t know how I’m going to keep this to five points but I’ll do my best in what was an absolute classic tonight in the Champions League. Bayern scored first as Diaz raced into the box and was brought down by Pacho with the referee awarding Bayern a penalty in the 16th minute, Harry Kane never looked like missing and sent Safanov the wrong way to give Bayern the lead. It didn’t take long for PSG to equalise as Kvarastkhelia was played down the left up against Stanisic as the Georgian worked some space in the box and curled a beauty into the bottom corner to bring PSG level in the 24th minute, both teams where throwing punch after punch and it was PSG who went in front from a corner as Dembele whipped a brilliant ball in as the smallest player on the pitch Joao Neves rose highest and scored a superb header to put PSG in front in the 33rd minute. At this point both teams looked like scoring from every attack as Bayern equalised with Olise picking up the ball in some space on the edge of the box and dribbled forward eventually firing a missile into the roof of the net to bring the game level at 2-2, just before the half ended there was controversy as Dembele claimed that his cross hit off Alphonso Davies’ arm but upon replay you could see that the ball hit Davies’ thigh first so you can’t give a penalty for that. Or so you thought as the referee was sent to the monitor where of course he agreed with the VAR and awarded a penalty to PSG, Ousmane Dembele stepped up and slotted past Neuer to give PSG the lead going into half-time.
A whirlwind second half for both teams. You might think the drama couldn’t continue in the second half but we got more of the same as Hakimi was played in down the right with the Moroccans cross seemingly missing everyone in the box until Kvarastkhelia popped up from the left and finished brilliantly past Neuer to put PSG 4-2 up in the 56th minute, just two minutes later the ball was played up to Ousmane Dembele by Desire Doue with the Ballon D’or winner going face to face with Upamecano who couldn’t stop Dembele reversing his shot into the near-post off the woodwork giving Neuer no chance and putting PSG 5-2 up in the 58th minute. You might think the Bayern heads would drop but not this team as Kimmich floated a brilliant cross from a free-kick to Upamecano who headed in to get one back for Bayern in the 65th minute, then just a few minutes later Bayern got another one back as Kane picked the ball up deep and chipped a ridiculous ball over the top for Diaz who took the ball down and smashed the ball past Safanov to bring Bayern within one. The goal was initially given as offside but upon review Diaz was just onside from Kane’s pass as Bayern made it 5-4 in the 68th minute, from there I think both teams were relatively happy with the result as the game ended with just one goal separating the teams heading into next week at the Allianz.
PSG will be kicking themselves for those couple of minutes. At 5-2 I was thinking that PSG needed another goal and that probably would have ended the tie with four goals in it but those two quick-fire goals from Upamecano and Diaz leave it all up for grabs next week, regardless I thought PSG were magnificent tonight showing why they are European champions almost scoring at will with every single one of their attackers playing at a world-class level. In particular yet again I was just so impressed with Kvicha Kvarastkhelia who scored his two goals at crucial times in the game taking them excellently with most other wingers in the world simply incapable of scoring goals like that, obviously we know by now how good Ousmane Dembele is in that central position but I was worried by that miss in the first half when he was sent through on goal and miscued badly on his right foot sending the ball far wide. In the past he would have let that chance bother him all game but not now as he scored the pick of the goals with a brilliant solo run and finish that put PSG 5-2 up at the time, the problem for PSG was the defence that got destroyed all game particularly out wide as Hakimi and Mendes were getting killed all game by Diaz and Olise. I suppose there’s not much you can do when those two are on their game and PSG will have someone else at right-back next week as Hakimi looked to have suffered a hamstring injury, a big miss for PSG who don’t really have a back-up in that position.
Bayern will take that result after nearly throwing the tie away. Bayern were really unlucky to be losing at half-time conceding a penalty which never should be given under any circumstance which basically separates the teams heading into next week, going forward they were absolutely frightening as Olise and Diaz were tearing the PSG full-backs apart all game. Harry Kane was brilliant in that false-9 position dropping back and playing inch-perfect passes all game which culminated in his outrageous assist for Diaz for Bayern’s fourth goal, the one disappointment for me was the performance of Jamal Musiala who still unfortunately looks miles off the pace and the Musiala we are used to seeing for Bayern Munich. The injury of Serge Gnabry has actually been more harmful than I thought as I haven’t seen too much of Musiala this season so far, he’ll have to start again next week as Bayern don’t have anyone else that can play that position. I would say that there was big problems in the Bayern defence but honestly some of the goals PSG scored were just world-class and there’s not really much you can do when Kvarastkhelia and Dembele are on form, it’s still all to play for next week for Bayern at the Allianz which Kompany will be thankful for after being three goals down.
For of the same next week then please. This game was everything I loved about football at the highest level, people can talk about defending and systems but there’s nothing better than when two top teams simply go at it for 90 minutes and see who comes out on top without changing the way they play. I’m not sure who will be happier out of both managers but it’s still a 50/50 next week at the Allianz, the most likely loss of Hakimi is massive for PSG as there’s not a full-back in the world that could replace him so Diaz will be licking his lips knowing that most likely PSG will be playing someone out of position on the right. People are saying that tomorrow’s game is going to be the complete opposite of tonight but lets hope Atletico come out and take the game to Arsenal at the Metropolitano which would make for another cracker, I’m not sure Simeone will do that but lets hope so. All eyes in Madrid for tomorrows semi-final.