Die Folgen: Bayern’s 5-4 wild loss to PSG (Bavarian Football Works)Bayern Munich traveled to Paris Saint-Germain for the first leg of their Champions League semifinal and the game played out like many though that it would — an up-and-down affair that saw both attacking groups wreak havoc.
Unfortunately for the Bavarians, PSG would emerge as the winner of a rollicking 5-4 affair that saw incredible swings of emotions from the opening whistle. There is a lot to talk about, so let’s get to it. Here are some quick hitters on the match:
As always, let’s begin with a look at the starting XI:
❗Mit dieser 𝗫𝗜 den Grundstein fürs Finale legen! 👊#PSGFCB #packmas #UCL pic.twitter.com/MIUwq89CcI
The biggest news with the lineup was the absence of Konrad Laimer. Admittedly, not many saw this coming. Was he hurt? Was it strategic? Josip Stanišić got the nod at right-back and Alphonso Davies started at left-back. Otherwise, everything else fell right in line. That would turn out to be a major storyline for the match.
PSG came out far more assertive and inspired than it did back in November.
In the 16th minute, PSG blinked first after some back-and-forth play. Willian Pacho was sloppy in attempting to tackle Luis Díaz inside the box and fouled the Colombian. A minute later, Harry Kane deftly sent Matvey Safonov sprawling and put the Bavarians up 1-0.
What a sequence for the vaunted Bayern Munich attacking group.
Two minutes later, Olise almost made it 2-0. Safonov made the stop, but as the ball trickled behind him, Marquinhos dashed in to clear it away from the goal line. Bayern Munich had taken the game over, but PSG is too good to just roll over. That clearance by Marquinhos would end up being a massive play.
Minutes later, Bayern Munich received a major scare when Ousmane Dembélé sprinted away from Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano, but as he sprinted down the left side of the final third, he fluffed his attempt and sent it way wide.
That was a harbinger of things to come, though. Shortly thereafter, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia knotted the game when he took advantage of Stanišić’s tendency to “ball watch.” The split-second of hesitation and a jab step toward Désiré Doué cost the defender dearly. The dynamic winger raced by the defender, as he found the perfect angle to shoot the ball into the far corner of the net. That is just what Kvaratskhelia does.
The goal ignited PSG and João Neves was able to give the home side a 2-1 lead after a corner (!?) from Dembélé.
Minutes later, Dembélé almost made it 3-1, but Upamecano made a massive stop to prevent the game from spiraling out of control.
In the 37th minute, Díaz set up Musiala in front of the net, but Musiala opted to try a pass that did not work.
In the 39th minute, Stanišić — of all people — found himself driving down the right side and in on goal, but did not pull the trigger quick enough and had it tackled away.
Olise, though, would step up and come through again when needed. His 41st minute shot was not of the spectacular variety, but it somehow evaded Safonov (well, most of Safonov, he got a hand on it).
This game featured some of the finest wings you will see in the world.
It was a rough half (okay, rough game) for Stanišić, but that did not separate him from many of the defenders in this game as they were all on their heels. Unfortunately, there is going to be a lot of discussion about him and a lot of fingers pointed at him as well, but it was more than just him contributing to the defensive breakdowns.
Speaking of that, Davies found himself in a precarious position in added time as he turned his body when Dembélé tried to send a ball into the box. In doing so, his hand flailed out and the ball found it for a handball. The problem was that Davies was inside the box. After a lengthy discussion and review, it was ruled a PK and Dembélé beat Neuer for a 3-2 lead heading into the locker room for halftime. There was a lively debate about the handball rule and even though the ruling appeared to fly in the face of the actual rule, there was always going to be a strong chance a handball would be called. In that spot…in Paris…there was never a doubt that would be the call — and honestly, Bayern Munich fans would have expected it to be called if it was the other way around.
After the halftime break, Bayern Munich subbed out Davies in favor of Laimer. Many fans thought Stanišić should have been the one taken out, but there was no easy call. No one on the backline looked overly confident.