Lisbon
You have the triple: Bayern Munich wins the Champions League
The breast loosener: Kingsley Coman makes it 1-0 against PSG
© Miguel A. Lopes/Pool / Getty Images
The corona pandemic shook the Champions League, but did not crush it. The winner has now been determined in Lisbon: Bayern Munich prevailed in a close final – which won all three major titles of the season.
Of all people, the Paris-born Kingsley Coman, with the most important goal of his career, chose the second triple year of FC Bayern as the football kings of Europe. The 500th Champions League goal of Munich decided the 1-0 (1-0) in an intense, close and hard-fought final against Paris Saint-Germain at the final tournament in Lisbon. The final whistle was the start of a long night of partying.
The hero of the evening at the Estádio da Luz was next to the strong man Manuel Neuer winger Coman, who was trained at PSG and also made his professional debut there as a 16-year-old. Bayern’s “King” headed the gate to the triple after a super cross from Joshua Kimmich in the 59th minute. Bayern coach Hansi Flick’s move was a success: he had called Coman for Ivan Perisic. Coman’s past in Paris was “perhaps an extra motivation,” said Flick at the DAZN streaming service.
After Klopp German coaching duel
One year after Jürgen Klopp with Liverpool FC, the 55-year-old Flick triumphed in the German coaching duel with Thomas Tuchel (46). Flick led Bayern seven years after Jupp Heynckes in the ultra-long and difficult Corona season in less than ten months as head coach to the second triple. Bayern, who celebrated their third title after 2001 and 2013, are also the first winner in 28 years of the Champions League to win all games of the season – there were eleven in number.
Led by Leon Goretzka and Captain Neuer, the Munich team got off the team bus shortly before eight – fully focused and with only one goal. They “really want to get this trophy,” Flick said at Sky. New entry Leroy Sané, who was not eligible to play, wrote on Twitter: “You can do it!” The tactical but, as is typical for a final, highly intense initial phase was promising – Robert Lewandowski, top scorer in the premier class with 15 goals, hit the post (22nd).
Neuer does not only save once in dire need
However, Neuer also had to save in dire straits against Neymar served by Mbappé (18th). With high pressing, Flick’s “guarantee of success” in the outstanding 8-2 in the quarter-finals against FC Barcelona and 3-0 against Olympique Lyon in the semifinals, Bayern tried again and again to put the Parisian star ensemble under pressure. Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry and Coman lay in wait for ball losses, the midfield was arranged by Thiago and Goretzka. The Bayern game in depth from their own ball possession but could be expanded.
Many small fouls also disrupted the structure of both teams. Neymar, who initially stormed in the center, were to be thwarted completely, Mbappé and Di Maria never. Especially on the left side of the French world champion, Paris picked up the pace again and again. Di Maria shot freely in front of Neuer over the goal (23rd), Tuchel, who was mostly sitting on a cool box with a thick splint on his broken foot, clapped both hands in front of his face. Jerome Boateng, who was injured after the Lyon game, was injured in this Paris attack and had to be replaced. For him came Niklas Süle, who had only recently recovered from a cruciate ligament rupture and took on the big task against Neymar and Mbappé.
Any mistake could be punished bitterly
It remained a game in which the tension could be seen in almost every action. Any mistake could be bitterly punished. Lewandowski came to the header, the Paris defense was far too careless with the Bayern striker in the scene. The Pole tried when he fell, but it wasn’t enough to beat Keylor Navas (31st). The PSG goalkeeper from Costa Rica reported fit in time for the final and parried against Gnabry (45th + 1) before the break. In their own penalty area, Munich were lucky that Mbappé’s qualification after a mistake by David Alaba just before the break was too weak to bring Neuer into trouble.
In the almost deserted Estádio da Luz, the delegation members of both clubs provided at least a little motivation from the sidelines. And the mood grew heated. After a foul by Gnabry on Neymar, for which the German international saw a yellow card, the first pack was formed (52nd). When both teams played a little more cautiously, Joshua Kimmich served with his wonderful cross Coman, who caught the briefly unsorted PSG defense by surprise with the Munich opening goal.
Draxler was also allowed to answer
Driven by the hit, Bayern became more offensive and dominated the game. Thiago Silva blocked a shot from Coman (62.), Flick brought Perisic and Philippe Coutinho for the goalscorer and Gnabry (68.). Paris only became dangerous in parts. When Neuer was challenged against Marquinhos, the keeper was back on the spot (70th). National player Julian Draxler then came into play for Paris (72nd).
