First leg win! But Bayern know: “It won’t be a walk in the park”

An absolute treat was promised to the fans at the draw in November, at least the first part could not keep this promise.

Probably also because both Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern Munich have recently experienced stormy times. But the German record champions have recently returned to the road to success, at least in sporting terms, and converted the self-confidence they had gained into a 1-0 win in the first leg of the round of 16 in Paris (match report >>>).

For long stretches, the Munich team set the tone, with former PSG homegrown Kingsley Coman scoring the winning goal. As in the 2020 Champions League final, before he had to leave the field injured after a foul by Presnel Kimpembe.

Nevertheless, the Frenchman is beaming: “Scoring a goal in the Parc des Princes is a childhood dream. It was a special moment. It’s the club where I grew up, the city where I was born. I didn’t want to be in front of the fans celebrate.”

Summer gets used to quieter working days

At the time of the goal, Kylian Mbappe was already on the field and breathed new life into the previously lethargic game of the French star ensemble.

Despite two offside goals, the World Cup top scorer was unable to prevent his first home defeat after 41 competitive games. Just as little as the third PSG bankruptcy in a row – the last time there was 2020.

Bayern were accordingly satisfied after the game. “We had everything under control in the first half. We didn’t allow anything. Of course they changed a bit in the second half of the game and they became more dangerous. But overall we did well,” said goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

The Swiss was brought in from Mönchengladbach just a few weeks ago to replace Manuel Neuer, who will be out until the end of the season, and experienced a mostly quiet evening at the Parc des Princes.

Only in the final phase, when PSG shifted up a gear and Bayern concentrated on the defensive, did the Swiss also have work to do. In the 74th minute he showed a strong reaction against Mbappe, who broke through, only let a little burn and radiated a lot of calm in what ended up being a hectic game.

“I’m getting used to the game I have in Munich. It’s maybe a little less work. But at this level in the Champions League, there’s work to be done,” says the goalkeeper and continues: “We’re in but the defense worked away a lot. That’s a gift for a goalkeeper, of course.”

Nagelsmann was surprised by this

But more would have been possible on the offensive.

The first half of the game was dominated, but without necessarily becoming dangerous. “We did very well for the first 25 minutes. We were also a bit surprised that Paris didn’t want the ball so much,” coach Julian Nagelsmann pointed out to a hesitant PSG.

But it wasn’t until the second half that PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was really challenged, but the Italian made up for his mistake in Coman’s 0-1 lead with top saves against Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (63′) and Benjamin Pavard (64′). .

“The first 20 minutes were good too,” said Nagelsmann happily. Jamal Musiala knows: “We could have scored a few more goals but we didn’t concede. As a team we played well and we mustn’t forget: PSG are tough opponents.”

This became clearly noticeable as time went on. “Then of course they have a lot of speed up there,” Nagelsmann refers to the offensive trio of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi. Bayern were able to control this well by bringing in Alphonso Davies.

“We can’t put our feet up”

The Munich team is confident for the second leg on March 8th in their own Allianz Arena.

Nagelsmann says: “The first step has been taken, we want to take the second step. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t mean much. We’re better off than Paris, but we can’t put our feet up in Munich.”

Especially given the fact that Mbappe will probably be at full strength again and play from the start. “We all know what an extraordinary player Mbappe is. The second leg will be a big task,” said Musiala.

And Sommer fears: “It won’t be a walk in the park.”

Ramos: “I’m very disappointed”

At PSG, disillusionment quickly spread.

“I’m very disappointed for the fans,” said defensive boss Sergio Ramos. “In the second leg we have to show more character and more verticality.”

“We want to win and do our best, but that’s the nature of football. Sometimes we play well, sometimes we play badly,” says the experienced Spaniard, speaking of the current situation and knows that in the end only the final result counts.

But he also emphasizes: “The more we play, the more experience we will gain. It will get better and better.”