Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting proved to be the hero of the night as Bayern Munich secured a 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in their last-16 second leg, thereby ending PSG’s hopes of winning the UEFA Champions League this season. Choupo-Moting, who had played for PSG in their 1-0 Champions League final defeat to Bayern in Lisbon in 2020, scored the opening goal of the match, sidefooting the ball home after Thomas Mueller dispossessed Marco Verratti inside his own penalty area.
Bayern reached the quarter-finals with an aggregate score of 3-0, and this marked their 13th quarter-final appearance in the last 15 years. On the other hand, PSG will have to wait at least another season to lift the coveted trophy for the first time. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted that his side “needed the crowd” to help them get past PSG’s “brutal quality” in the first half, but in the second half, they were “much better than their opponents” and “deserved to win”.
While Bayern were largely untroubled throughout the game, PSG had their fair share of missed opportunities. PSG’s captain, Marquinhos, was forced to exit the game due to a rib problem 10 minutes before half-time. His replacement, Nordi Mukiele, who had just returned from an Achilles injury, didn’t reappear after the interval, leaving coach Christophe Galtier to introduce 17-year-old centre-back El Chadaille Bitshiabu for the second half.
The lack of squad depth in the Qatari-owned French champions’ team was highlighted during the game. Neymar was already out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury, and they lost defenders Marquinhos and Nordi Mukiele to injuries during this game. Coach Galtier lamented PSG’s failure to “make the most of our chances” and conceding “a really stupid goal” through Verratti’s error. He expressed his frustration and disappointment in the dressing room and said that they had to “look ahead” now.
The first half of the game was tight, with both teams trying their best to score. PSG midfielder Vitinha had the best chance of the half when he won the ball after Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer attempted to dribble out of a busy penalty area. Vitinha was presented with an empty net, but his rolled effort allowed Matthijs de Ligt to clear the ball off the line.
Bayern started the second half quickly and created multiple chances, but PSG were let off by Choupo-Moting’s clumsy feet, as he tripped before shooting and then stood in the way of a goal-bound effort from Joshua Kimmich. Choupo-Moting looked to have scored his second goal of the game in the 52nd minute, but his header from a curling Jamal Musiala cross was disallowed for offside against Mueller, who was adjudged to have been interfering with play.
Bayern continued to push forward, and PSG’s defense broke on 61 minutes, with Choupo-Moting scoring the opening goal of the game. Mueller robbed the ball from Verratti in the box, clipped the ball to Leon Goretzka, who squared for Choupo-Moting to double Bayern’s two-legged advantage. PSG’s centre-back, Sergio Ramos, had a chance to equalize just four minutes later, but his powerful header was brilliantly saved by Sommer.
With Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi struggling to make an impact, substitute Serge Gnabry put the result beyond doubt, racing onto Joao Cancelo’s pass before firing into the far corner left-footed in the