Munich (dpa) – FC Bayern Munich opened its groundbreaking top game week with a very important victory in the Champions League classic against Paris Saint-Germain. After the narrow but well-deserved 1-0 (1-0) thanks to defender Minjae Kim’s first premier class goal (38th minute), the German football record champions are back in the middle of the race for a place in the third game in the fifth the top 8 and direct entry into the round of 16. However, there are still more victories to come.
After the seventh clean sheet success in a row, coach Vincent Kompany and his team can go into the big tests next Saturday in the Bundesliga against Borussia Dortmund and finally in the DFB Cup against defending champions Bayer Leverkusen with an even broader cross. PSG, on the other hand, is threatened with an early exit from the Champions League after the league phase with just four points.
Yellow-red for Dembéle, Musiala hits the post
Kim’s goal decided the game. The second key scene was the sending off of PSG striker Ousmane Dembelé. In the 56th minute – already warned – the former Dortmund player impetuously tackled Bayern defender Alphonso Davies. The consequence was the yellow-red card.
With the advantage, Bayern tried to make it 2-0, but without losing defensive control. Jamal Musiala hit the post with a bang (74′), and the home side played a few counterattacks poorly. This kept things exciting until injury time.
“It won’t be boring,” Bayern coach Kompany had predicted before the showdown between two teams in possession of the ball. And that’s how it happened. The 75,000 spectators in the sold-out stadium saw fast-paced hunting football. Both teams constantly wanted to have the ball, although Bayern were more determined when in possession. National player Jamal Musiala could have shot the hosts into the lead as early as the 7th minute following a pass from Joshua Kimmich. But PSG goalkeeper Matwei Safonow held on brilliantly.
Final hero as an asset
Things were different when Munich won 1-0. The 25-year-old Russian did a poor job of defending against Kimmich’s corner and even allowed Kim to score his debut goal in the Champions League. The lead was deserved. An asset in Bayern’s offensive was Kingsley Coman.
The winger, born in Paris and trained at PSG, who headed the winning goal against his former club in the 1-0 win in Munich’s premier class triumph in the 2020 final in Lisbon, had numerous good scenes. What was missing was the crowning finale, once after a fine solo (28th), then after a pass from Harry Kane (66th) in what was actually an ideal shooting position.
Four days after his hat trick in the 3-0 win against FC Augsburg on Tuesday evening, the Englishman was primarily an offensive and defensive worker for his team. Of course, the pressure of having to win at all costs did not paralyze Bayern. The defense around goalscorer Kim and Dayot Upemacano was once again stable and allowed PSG hardly any chances. 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery missed the goal (29th), Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer easily fended off a shot from Dembelé (32nd).
