Already the first step of the UEFA Champions League play-off draw gives us the opportunity to watch truly fantastic matches featuring the strongest teams in Europe. The final draw in 2022 was very difficult for potential contenders to win the tournament, as it created matches for us like Liverpool-Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain-Bayern.

It was the return match between the French and German champions, to which this football night was dedicated, the teams were already playing each other on the field of Christophe Galtier’s team three weeks ago. Julian Nagelsmann’s players later won, but what is a 1-0 score in modern football?

The fact that Kylian Mbappe was on the offensive line from the first minutes of the away team showed us the desire of the French club to attack other players’ goals from the very beginning. However, Bayern also came to their own stadiums in hopes of appeasing their opponents’ frenzied offensive group. After all, we initially watched “soccer chess” from carefully prepared teams, and the first scoring chances only began to appear in the middle of the first half.

The guests got what they wanted with their passes to Mbappe, and the ball passed between Kylian’s legs in almost every gap in front of the penalty area. Only in the end it was necessary to act, but even Lionel Messi had problems with this, and Vitinha almost ruined the best moment for a goal against all 16 teams in the 1/8 finals, where Sommer made a mistake. The middle of the penalty area ended with a shot into the empty net on the line where de Ligt miraculously managed to return.

At the same time, in the 36th minute, Christophe Galtier had to add substitute defender Mukiele due to the injury of captain Marquinhos, who threatened PSG with possible defensive problems. And since Nordin himself had just healed from an injury, his stay on the pitch was short-lived – during the timeout, the Parisians had their second of five substitutions, but left at least two free rotation slots behind. Focusing on defense in the first half, Bayern achieved everything with varying success rates.

The guests were supposed to have the best start to the second half of the match, but even here the opponents were one step ahead. And this time, the Munich team not only connected PSG’s attempts to break the middle line from the very beginning, but also really took a leading role in the course of events on the field. It all ended with Choupo-Moting – Muller’s goal in the 52nd minute, but due to Thomas’ offside serving from the left flank, it was not necessary to determine the final writer of the final touch.

Sometimes teams encounter signals along the way, and it won’t be good if these are ignored. The Galtier team did not kick the ball into their own goal and as a result “really” conceded it in the 61st minute. Young defender Bitshiabu’s mistake during a close pass to Verratti was due to a lack of experience, and Musiala successfully rebounded Goretzka, who immediately switched to vacancies for Choupo-Moting.

Immediately after, PSG had a moment that should have turned the match in favor of the visitors, but with Messi’s right-wing header, Sergio Ramos could not beat Sommer at close range. This was Munich’s only mistake left, and they didn’t allow more until the end of the match. And Nagelsmann’s team once again successfully counterattacked and Gnabry scored a free kick to the left flank of the far corner from Canselu’s transfer.

Thus, Bayern Munich received permission from the reporting team to pass to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, while the tournament path for France’s Paris Saint-Germain was completed ahead of schedule.

UEFA Champions League. 1/8 final. The rematch.

Bayern – PSG – 2:0 (debut – 1:0)

Choupo-Moting, 61, Gnabry, 89

Judge, 90+6

Bavaria: Sommer – de Ligt, Upamecano, Stanisic – Davis, Goretzka, Kimmich, Koman (Gnabry, 86) – Muller (Cancelu, 86), Musiala (Mane, 82) – Choupo-Moting (Sane, 68).

PSG: Donnarumma – Marquinhos (Mukiele, 36, Bitsiabu, 46), Ramos, Danilo – Mendes (Bernat, 81), F. Ruiz (Zaire-Emry, 76), Verratti, Vitinha Ferreira (Ekitike, 82), Hakimi – Mbappe, Messi .

Judge: Daniele Orsato (Cio, Italy).

Stadium: Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany).

Shots (on goal): 13 (5) – 9 (4)
Corner: 4 – 6
Offside: 3 – 0.

Bavaria – PSG. ONLINE BROADCAST OF THE MATCH

Temperature: 8°C