Bayern Munich 2-0 PSG (3-0): Germans reach Champions League QF

Paris Saint-Germain have a serious problem in the Champions League, where they have once again fallen in the last 16, as they did last year at the hands of Real Madrid.

The Parisians lost 2-0 at the Allianz Arena to Bayern Munich on Wednesday when they needed to come back from a 1-0 deficit at the Parc des Princes in the first leg. They add another failure to their European CV. Choupo-Moting, a former PSG striker, who arrived in Munich two seasons ago as Lewandowski's understudy, was the executioner. Gnabry scored the second in the final stretch.

PSG coach Christophe Galtier played a completely different game to the first leg, with an extra midfielder to take advantage of Neymar's absence through injury and Mbappé and Messi completely freed from defensive duties. The Frenchman was looking for balance, and he found it, but only half-heartedly. His team had possession of the ball but in return lost intimidation up front.

Even so, Mbappé could have given PSG the lead when the fans were still taking their seats in the stands. He received a ball on the left flank and headed towards the Bayern goal without thinking. In front of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer, however, he missed.

All of PSG's danger was carried by Mbappé until Messi began to appear in the game. He did so by dropping his position so he could scan the horizon from his own vantage point. It was the war of the little guys (Leo, Verrati and Vitinha) against the giants.

At the other end, Bayern were patient and fantastic in defence. Nagelsmann had already warned in the build-up that having pace at the back would be one of the keys to stopping PSG. And the Bavarians did well in that respect. In addition, they were able to cause problems wise, where Coman and Alphonso Davies looked like two daggers always ready to do damage. The Parisian centre-backs, led by a rejuvenated Sergio Ramos, prevented it.

Marquinhos' injury relapse on the half-hour mark was a setback for Galtier, but the coach made amends by bringing on Mukiele. Just before that, Bayern had had their first chance, a fierce low drive from the imaginative Musiala that Donnarumma parried away with a great save. Messi had also had a chance, but fell into the tangle of German defenders.

The clearest of all, however, came on the stroke of half-time. Sommer had a handful in his own penalty area and gave the ball to Vitinha, leaving an empty net. The goal seemed to be a foregone conclusion, but De Ligt appeared out of nowhere to clear the ball off the line.

As Mbappé came out of the dressing room, he took the floor. He was seen spurring on his teammates on the stairs before returning to the pitch. There was also the young Bitshiabu, who had to make his debut in the Champions League due to the physical problems of substitute Mukiele, who was also forced off injured.

It was then that Bayern smelt blood and turned on Donnarumma's goal. Choupo-Moting scored with a header, but the goal did not count because of an offside against Müller, who tried to intervene in the goal.

PSG seemed to be in trouble. And they were. The roles had changed from the first half and Bayern had taken the initiative. On the hour mark, a childish ball loss by Verratti in his area allowed Müller to connect with Goretzka and the latter to set up Choupo-Moting to send the ball into the net. The Italian midfielder called for a foul, but there was none.

The ghosts of PSG in the Champions League were back. Ramos tried to keep them alive with a header from a corner that was met by Sommer's firm hand. After that, Galtier's men kept trying with no luck. Until Gnabry put the game to bed on the counter-attack. The epilogue was written. Too much Bayern for the petrodollars.