Kylian Mbappe scores twice as PSG beat Bayern in a five-goal thriller at the Allianz Arena.
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The first leg of Bayern Munich versus Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Quarterfinal lived up to the high expectations of football fans across the globe. Coming into the game, Bayern were on a seven-game winning streak but the sad news for them was the absence of Robert Lewandowski who missed the first leg due to an injury, and boy did they miss him. PSG came into the game seeking revenge for their defeat in the final last season and there was life in the contest almost instantly.
It only took three minutes for arguably the biggest star in world football today, Kylian Mbappe to get off the mark. A brilliant ball from Neymar (the first of a few) through the Bayern defense made space for Mbappe on the right side of the pitch and he hammered the ball past Manuel Neuer into the bottom corner. It was a dream start for the French side and things got even better for them in the 28th minute of the game when Neymar floated in a sublime cross towards the penalty area and Marquinhos did well to take a soft touch and strike it into the net with elite composure, before the skipper trudged off the pitch a few minutes late. The game later saw a tactical substitution as Leon Goretzka made way for Alphonso Davies in the first half and it made a marked difference to the Bayern side. In the 37th minute, Pavard collected the ball on the right flank and delivered an inch-perfect cross which was met by Choupo-Moting’s head giving Keylor Navas no chance to save it.
Bayern kept pressing PSG after scoring their first goal and it became a question of when and not if a second goal was coming. A delightful free-kick from Kimmich found Muller who was unmarked inside the penalty box and saw Bayern draw level in the 60th minute. GAME ON! Just as everyone thought Bayern were going to turn it around though, PSG took the lead again through a brilliant counterattack. Angel Di Maria started the break and found the sensational Mbappe once again, who got the better of Boateng and almost effortlessly tucked the ball into the bottom corner. Bayern dominated the game in terms of numbers with a total of thirty-one shots and sixty-four percent possession, but Pochettino’s side did well on the counterattack and made the most of their opportunities.
It is going to be a real challenge for the Bavarian side now as PSG have the advantage and also have three important away goals which they carry into the second leg in Paris on the 14th of April. Another issue for Bayern would be their striker Robert Lewandowski who is now confirmed to miss the second leg of the fixture as well. But…it is the Champions League and we’ve all seen stranger things happen!
[Image Credit: UEFA Champions League]
Shashank Iyer