PSG took the lead in the 78th minute when midfielder João Neves won possession and threaded a pass to 18-year-old winger Désiré Doué, who curled a left-foot shot inside the right post past Manuel Neuer. Earlier, Bayern had suffered a major setback: in first-half stoppage time, 22-year-old star Jamal Musiala suffered a gruesome broken ankle after a collision with PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. In the closing stages Bayern pushed men forward in search of an equaliser, but PSG’s defense held firm. Paris were reduced to nine men when Willian Pacho was sent off in the 82nd minute and Lucas Hernández in stoppage time. In the final moments, PSG broke again on the counterattack: Achraf Hakimi dribbled past three defenders and found Ousmane Dembélé, who finished low into the corner to make it 2-0 deep into injury time.
Standout performances came from PSG’s attack. Doué’s composure on his left foot earned PSG the opener, and Dembélé’s speed and finish killed off the game late on. Midfielder João Neves also impressed: he won the ball off Harry Kane to launch the move that led to Doué’s goal. In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma was crucial in the first half – he made a pair of exceptional saves to keep Bayern at bay, including tipping away a driven Michael Olise shot and blocking an Aleksandar Pavlovic header. Manuel Neuer was likewise busy for Bayern, coming to his side’s rescue by denying Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s angled drive and parrying a close-range effort from Bradley Barcola. Hakimi’s surging run and precise cross created Dembélé’s goal, highlighting PSG’s effective counter-attacking approach.
Tactically, both teams played aggressively in a fast, end-to-end contest. PSG boss Luis Enrique had warned that Paris would likely spend “less of the ball than normal,” a view Bayern’s Vincent Kompany agreed with. As The Guardian observed, it was a meeting of two high-intensity sides with “extreme principles” – a frenetic game of give-and-take. Indeed, neither side dominated possession for long. PSG managed only about 76% pass accuracy (below their usual level), but remained dangerous on the break. Bayern pushed up men and probed down the flanks with players like Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman, while PSG absorbed pressure and looked to hit on swift transitions, using the pace of Hakimi, Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé.
After the match, PSG captain Marquinhos praised his team’s resilience: “It is always difficult to play with two fewer players, but today the team showed the attitude and desire to get the job done”. Hakimi echoed the sentiment, noting PSG were up against “one of the best teams” and commending his side’s effort: “We are really happy… it was a really good effort today, a really good game”. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, visibly shaken by Musiala’s injury, called it “something very unfortunate for Jamal … we all saw what happened and it didn’t look good.”
With this win, PSG advance to the Club World Cup semi-finals on July 9 in New Jersey, keeping alive their bid for another trophy after the Champions League. They will face either European powerhouse Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund next, with a place in the final on the line. For Bayern Munich, the loss means elimination from the tournament; they return home frustrated, having seen their star player injured and their campaign end without silverware. PSG, on the other hand, will look to carry this momentum forward as they pursue the Club World Cup title.
0 Comments