A brace from Kylian Mbappe and a clinical chance conversion from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) inflicted hosts Bayern a 3-2 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The PSG shocked Bayern with two first-half goals before the hosts turned up and leveled the scores. The visitors from France had the last laugh though as Mbappe's second of the night stunned wasteful Bayern.

The Bavarians needed no warmup time and left no doubt that they wanted to secure a win on home soil as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting rattled the woodwork with only two minutes played.

However, the PSG caught a fairy tale start on the road as Mbappe completed a fast break via Neymar to surprise Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with the opener from the edge of the box.

The visitors thought they had doubled the lead in the 12th minute but Julian Draxler's goal was ruled offside.

As the match progressed, Bayern gained the upper hand as Leon Goretzka forced Paris custodian Keylor Navas into action with 19 minutes gone.

PSG's defense had its hands full but the visitors were able to soak up Bayern's pressure.

Bayern's nightmare continued as Paris doubled its advantage against the run of the play after Marquinhos benefitted on Neymar's chipped ball to beat Neuer from close range in the 28th minute.

The hosts responded well and pressed relentlessly for a goal but for all that PSG remained a menace on counterattacks.

Bayern's powerplay got eventually rewarded in the 38th minute when Benjamin Pavard's cross into the box allowed Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to halve the deficit by a header at the far post.

After the restart, the German giants picked up where they left off but Navas neutralized the promising chances from David Alaba and Pavard in the early stages of the second half.

Navas was hapless though at the hour mark when Joshua Kimmich's free-kick into the penalty box found Thomas Muller, who headed home the equalizer from a central position.

Bayern gained momentum and pressed PSG into defense, yet the visitors who once again scored out of thin air as Mbappe showed no mercy and wrapped up his brace following a fast break in the 68th minute.

Hansi Flick's men started an onslaught on Paris' goal, but the visitor's well-positioned defense stood firm to secure a 3-2 away win in the first leg.

The German record champions lose their match on home soil although they had 31 efforts on target whereas Paris scored only three goals from six shots on goal.

"We had many chances. We played good but of course, we would have preferred another result. We weren't efficient enough. However, I am still satisfied with the team's performance," said Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick.

"Despite the outcome of today's game, we have to stay focussed in the second leg. Bayern is Bayern and they still have the quality to eliminate us from the competition," said PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino. 

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)