What a spectacle at the final remake of the preseason! One back, one back and one full of gates! Bayern and Paris St.-Germain meet with open visors in Part 1 on the way to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Munich are big losing because they are soon 0-2 behind. Then they show that they are Bayern, the defending champions, create the balance. In the end, however, they still lose a bit of perspective at 2: 3 (1: 2).
It is wild birds, almost ludicrous, but definitely adventurous. Defensive lines only take place here and there to a limited extent. There is no trace of maneuvering, of palpation and it is certainly nothing for the faint of heart. It’s going full steam ahead, as if the decision had to be made in a game and not next Tuesday. Maybe also to dribble around the drifting snow that sets in on time for the kick-off, gives the ball even more speed and also lets chance play a part.
Maybe that’s why the ball slips through Manuel Neuer legs when Kylian Mbappé pulls off a counter attack from eight meters. Bayern’s captain does not look happy and the 0: 1 (3rd) is a bit on his cap in addition to a lousy staggering of his front men. The Munich team initially believed they were psychologically positive, because they have the first chance, only a header from Lewandowski substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting hits the crossbar (2nd).
Little is normal in this busy game, in which there are three injury-related changes before the break. Both of them have enough manpower shortages. In addition to the injured, there are players who tested positive for Corona with Serge Gnabry and there with Marco Verratti and Alessandro Florenzi. For Bayern Leon Goretzka (Alphonso Davies is coming) and Niklas Süle (for Jerome Boateng) with muscle injuries, for the French the Brazilian Marquinhos. The PSG captain only made it 2-0 shortly before because Bayern’s offside trap didn’t snap and he alone saved cold blood from Neuer (28th). That makes an impression and proves why the French previously overturned FC Barcelona from the competition.
Bayern, caught on the wrong leg and countered ice cold, stay tuned anyway and are rewarded. This time Choupo-Moting brings more power and more precision behind his header. Against his touchdown to 1: 2 after a cross from Benjamin Pavard, the strong Keylor Navas, who has already saved brilliantly against Thomas Müller (10th), has no chance in the PSG box (37th).
The people of Munich are back and are adding another shovel. Only: It remains a dance on the rope because Neymar, Julian Draxler and, above all, Mbappé are only lurking on the counterattack. Neymar is almost lucky, but Davies saves just before the line (52nd). On the other hand, Pavard fails to Navas (53rd) – it remains like on the football field, every action is extremely dangerous here and there.
It remains a spectacle without end. First, Bayern think they have reached their goal, because Müller made it 2-2 with a perfect header after a free kick from Joshua Kimmich (60th). Only Mbappé can do that too. Not with your head, but all the better with your foot. The 2: 3 (68th) is anything but deserved when playing on a goal, but it is still well played and even more proof of efficiency.
That is the end point. The preliminary. The last word is far from said.
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