Bayern Munich – PSG: New disappointment for Paris, still eliminated in the round of 16

From our special correspondent in Munich,

Done for PSG. Like last season, the Parisian club was eliminated in the knockout stages of the Champions League, with another defeat against Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening (2-0). The Parisians missed their chance in the first period, before returning to their DNA of losing in C1 after the break, weighed down by a chick error and a goal from a former home.

The wind of hope

Reinvigorated by its victories in Marseille and against Nantes, and especially by the form displayed by Kylian Mbappé, PSG played the match they needed in Munich. Finally, for 45 minutes. Well planted on their 3-5-2 system, with in particular a monstrous job from Verratti and Fabian Ruiz in the middle, the Parisians were the most dangerous of the first act, and by far. We counted four chances, the first two for Mbappé, too far to the left (2nd) then to the right (19th) to hope to deceive Sommer. Then two more, huge ones. Messi, first, well served by Nuno Mendes but who does not trigger fast enough and allows Davies to counter him (25th). Then the great regret of the evening, this desperately soft shot from Vitinha, when the goal was empty after a guilty hesitation from Sommer on the restart. The Portuguese rushed to trigger and his shot could be repelled by a tackle from De Ligt from the parking lot (38th). Last season, Vinicius and Benzema knew how to take advantage of the same error of the same kind of error on the part of Donnarumma. This is what still differentiates PSG from the real contenders.

The DNA of lose

This elimination, we finally felt it coming from the first minutes of the second period. Not helped by the exits of Marquinhos, whose ribs only lasted 35 minutes, then of Mukiele (who had entered in place of the Brazilian), forcing Galtier to throw the youngster Bitshiabu into the pot, the Parisians lost the thread what was their strength. Opposite, Bayern, much more cautious than expected at the start of the match, also understood that they were playing with fire. So he started pushing. Just a little, but enough to bend everything in this Paris. The warning of the goal refused to Choupo Moting because of an excess of zeal from Müller, who did not need to stretch his foot for the head of his teammate to finish at the bottom (52nd), was not enough to wake up the Galtier players. Because Verratti was caught like a bruise in his cute sin, the little dribble in front of the surface. Müller, Goretzka and Choupo did not ask for so much. Goal of the former Parisian, obviously (61st). There had been no match for a long time when Gnabry scored the second Bavarian goal (89th).

What do we do now ?

If this elimination will not enter the Pantheon against PSG in the Champions League, alongside Real 2022, Manchester United 2019 or Barça 2017, it is no less disturbing. Because a certain powerlessness emerged from this double confrontation, against a team that Paris would so much like to resemble, for its mastery of these matches, its quiet and collective strength. The years pass and PSG does not learn from its mistakes. Coman’s unpretentious strike that escapes Donnarumma on the first leg and Verratti’s unforgivable number on the return are things that we can no longer see if the club ever wants to hang on to its dream. In the meantime, he continues to elude her, and the problem is, it’s deserved.


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