The Argentine star was part of PSG’s 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich as the two teams opened the Champions League Round of 16.
With the competition entering its knockout phase, each side earned two legs to decide progression. The clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich marked a marquee matchup between two title contenders as the first leg unfolded.
Paris Saint-Germain looked settled at the top of the group stage, yet the evening exposed some vulnerabilities. A quiet display from Lionel Messi, paired with Neymar returning to form and a sharp touch from Kylian Mbappé, still left PSG short of their best against a Bayern side that pressed relentlessly until they finally broke through.
The German tally arrived in the 53rd minute through Kingsley Coman. The French side briefly appeared ready to respond, pushing for a way back into the tie, but the hosts maintained the upper hand and seemed set to extend their lead.
PSG did not give up. In the dying minutes, they found a sliver of hope with a controversial decision over a goal by Kylian Mbappé, who had been on the field for roughly half an hour.
From PSG’s perspective, a clear opportunity came when Nuno Mendes surged down the left, delivered from the byline, and found a central runner, only for Pavard to block the shot that deflected toward the net.
With a 1-0 deficit and a must-win mindset for the return leg, PSG faces a tough task at the Alliance Arena when the second leg arrives on a Wednesday night in March.
Here is a full recap of the match and what it means going forward in the knockout phase for both clubs.
THE SUMMARY
- Final score: PSG 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH
- Disallowed moments and a missed opportunity for a Messi-ward equalizer
- Red card incidents and key referee calls influenced the tempo
- Mbappé’s impact after coming on underlined PSG’s attacking threat
- VAR reviews and near-misses shaped the flow of the game
- Set-piece pressure and late push from PSG hinted at a possible comeback
- The German side maintained discipline and capitalized on chances
- Expectations for the return leg remain high among fans and analysts
WHEN IS IT?
HOW TO WATCH ON TV
The PSG versus Bayern Munich match is broadcast in Argentina on Fox Sports.
Fox Sports
WHO PROVIDES THE HIGHLIGHTS AND COMMENTARY?
FOX SPORTS: Reports by Hernán De Lorenzi with commentary by Miguel Osovi.
STAR + (ESPN): Reports by Mariano Closs with commentary by Diego Latorre.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE
Streaming options include the platforms of major cable providers such as Cablevision Stream, Play Telecentre, or Direct TV GO. These services support PC, Mac, and mobile devices on Android and iOS.
Star+ offers ESPN’s live sports and events, as well as a wide range of shows, movies, and original productions for fans looking to stream content on demand.
FORMATIONS
psg
Gianluigi Donnarumma; Danilo Pereira, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos; Achraf Hakimi, Warren Zaire-Emery, Marco Verratti, Carlos Soler, Nuno Mendes; Neymar, Lionel Messi. DT: Christophe Galtier.
BAYERN MUNICH
Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs de Ligt, Joao Cancelo; Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka; Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Kingsley Coman; Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. DT: Julian Nagelsmann.