PSG’s prolific play gave them three away goals against Bayern Munich and ensured they had the advantage going into the second leg of their Champions League Quarter-Final tie.
After former PSG attacker Maxim Choupo-Moting’s effort rattled the woodwork early on, the French side launched a swift counterattack as Kylian Mbappe found himself in shooting range. The 22-year-old’s shot went under Manuel Neuer and the ball rolled into the back of the Bayern Munich net with just three minutes on the clock.
PSG doubled their lead after 27 minutes as Neymar played a delightful ball over the Bayern defence – which in the early stages looked nervous and so out of character. Marquinhos was left wide open in the Munich penalty area and had the easy job of slotting it home past the hapless Neuer.
Just before half-time, Choupo-Moting got one back for Bayern as he latched onto the end of Benjamin Pavard’s pinpoint cross.
In the second period, the Bayern bombardment continued and seconds before the hour mark Thomas Muller was left in acres of space to nod home Joshua Kimmich’s deep free-kick for the equaliser.
A matter of moments later, Paris were on another counterattack and Bayern failed to clear the danger. After a quick fake shot, Mbappe beat Jerome Boateng and placed the ball into Manuel Neuer’s bottom left corner.
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas was the star of the show. The Costa Rica International made a series of world-class saves including a fantastic stop denying Leon Goretzka from six yards out.
Bayern Munich will be furious that they let so many chances go to waste. The German outfit had 31 shots over the course of the game, and had Robert Lewandowski been available for selection could we have seen a different outcome?
In the early stages of the game, Bayern looked uncomfortable but after two tactical substitutions in the first half where Boateng and Alphonso Davies were introduced, Bayern looked more composed under pressure.
If Bayern Munich are to stand any chance of advancing in the competition, they need to be more clinical in attack as too many good chances went flying into the empty stands.
PSG on the other hand had a game plan to soak up the pressure and use the frightening pace of Mbappe, Neymar, Julian Draxler and Di Maria to counterattack and it was executed impeccably.
The game ended 3-2 to the away side who take the aggregate advantage into next week’s second leg as well as three crucial away goals.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
News
UEFA Champions League
(Featured Image: Sönke Biehl / Flickr Images)