The mountain promised to be Dantesque, and the weather added a touch of madness. Under squalls of snow, on a lawn more white than green, despite a heated lawn, and despite the negative temperatures reigning over Bavaria, Wednesday, April 7, Paris-Saint-Germain was imposed against Bayern Munich, after a high performance (3-2). Despite the strong domination of the reigning European champions, the teammates of Kylian Mbappé, double scorer, showed clinical precision, and held until the end despite the waves in Munich. Author of three away goals, PSG takes the advantage for the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.
“I’m happy with the result, the attitude of the team which found itself in difficult situations against the best team in Europe., savored the Parisian coach, Mauricio Pochettino, at the microphone of RMC Sport. We must congratulate the players for their sense of sacrifice, we are trying to repeat this kind of performance. ”
Four days after bowing without showing anything against Lille, and ceding the lead of Ligue 1 to the Mastiffs, PSG continued its roller coaster season, and confirmed its strange paradox: this season, impossible to predict which face the Parisian team will post before a meeting. But as in the first leg of the round of 16 against FC Barcelona, Paris had donned his clothes of light, those of the Champions League. And on the wings of an intractable Keylor Navas – ten parades in total – Neymar’s teammates have multiplied against the title holders.
And it only took 148 seconds of play for Kylian Mbappé to first exploit the defect of the Bavarian armor – which to play high, is exposed in defense. Well served by Neymar, the young French world champion concluded a school counterattack, slipping the ball between the legs of Manuel Neuer. Bending the spine in the face of the opposing rushes, the Parisians have nevertheless doubled the bet on a goal from Marquinhos, once again well found by Neymar. Leading against the course of the game, Mauricio Pochettino’s men were quickly deprived of their captain, the Brazilian having to come out following an injury just after his goal.
31 shots for Bayern, but an Imperial Navas
Unbeaten in the Champions League for more than two years, Bayern Munich have never admitted defeat. And reduced the gap, on a goal from the former Parisian, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting shortly before the break. Outrageously dominating the debates, Hansi Flick’s men shot 31 times on goal, but “if we deserved to win, we really lacked realism,” blew French Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard. Deprived of their gunner Robert Lewandowski, and his replacement Serge Gnabry, the Bavarians equalized by Thomas Müller on the hour mark. And continued their assaults.
But despite the absences, despite the snow, the Parisians believed in their lucky stars. And Kylian Mbappé again took back the defense of Bayern, completing the work of Ile-de-France with a clinical conclusion (3-2, 68th). “I benefited from the great work of the collective. But we are only at the half-time of our confrontation. And we will attack this return match with the same determination”, blew the French striker.
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Thank you to all of you for having followed this meeting with us. We will meet again next week, Tuesday, for the return leg of these quarter-finals. And so much spectacle, we hope.
