Paris Saint-Germain faced Bayern Munich twice in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, with Bayern edging the French club over two legs. The first leg in Munich concluded 1-0 in favor of Bayern, and the return match delivered a 2-0 scoreline as Bayern extended their aggregate lead with two unanswered goals. The result marked a historic moment for PSG, as it was the first time in the club’s history that they did not manage to play a Champions League match without conceding an own goal in the competition’s framework. Throughout the group stage, PSG had shown a pattern of vulnerability, conceding in all six matches before the knockout rounds began. These outcomes highlighted a recurring theme: defensive lapses that have haunted PSG across the campaign and ultimately decided the tie against a seasoned continental challenger.
In the second leg, Maxim Shupo-Moting opened the scoring for Bayern in the 61st minute, setting the tone for the night. Serge Gnabry would later add a second goal, sealing Bayern’s qualification on the night and leaving Paris with a difficult hurdle to overcome in the aggregate. The goals reflected Bayern’s clinical execution and PSG’s struggle to convert chances into a decisive away result.
Neymar, the Brazilian forward for PSG, was unavailable for both legs due to an ankle injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Early assessments had indicated a brief layoff, but subsequent evaluations revealed a more extensive damage, forcing the forward to skip competitive action and begin a rehabilitation program with the aim of returning to training closer to the summer break. His absence represented a significant blow to PSG’s attacking options as they navigated a high-stakes confrontation on European football’s biggest stage.
Former Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann offered remarks following Bayern’s victory in the second leg, emphasizing the tactical discipline and the squad’s resilience that carried the team through a challenging matchup against Paris Saint-Germain. The exchange underscored the strategic adjustments made between legs that culminated in Bayern’s advancement to the next round. [citation: sports press briefing, source 1]