As in last year’s Champions League final, Bayern won 1-0, but this time it did no good for PSG.
With a 3-2 victory in Bayern and 3-3 in total, the French star gallery could rejoice for a sweet revenge, advancement on away goals and thus a semifinal place in the Champions League.
– What a nerve it was until the last second. They deserved it, PSG, says Brede Hangeland in the Champions League studio.
– This was an incredible football night. For a quality, entertainment and nerve. Life is better for us who love football, he describes.
In the semi-final, the winner of Wednesday’s settlement between Dortmund and Manchester City awaits.
– It was a very difficult match, and I’m happy. The players deserve the credit and we are proud of them, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino told BT Sport.
– Now I have been here for three months, and I enjoy the moment. It is a great achievement to reach the semifinals. We have a lot of talent in the team, and the job is to make them work as a team. Today they worked very hard, he said.
Tributes to Neymar
The big player of the match was Neymar. The Brazilian delivered a performance in the absolute top class.
– Of individual achievements in top football, it must be a few seasons since we have seen something as wild as this, Hangeland believes.
For there was only one thing missing for the superstar.
– You can criticize Neymar for a single thing after a match like this, and that is that he did not score a goal. It’s a little amazing. But the feint repertoire, the body control, the speed. It’s so beautiful, Hangeland continues.
Fireworks
It was a terrific first round at the Parc des Princes. Especially the PSG superduo Kylian Mbappé and Neymar showed themselves.
The former excelled in the role of facilitator, and served Neymar on a golden platter several times.
Towards the end of the round, the Brazilian also scored for both crossbar and post hits in just two minutes, but that would not be the case for PSG.
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When the score finally came towards the end of a first round of the best Champions League brand, it was of the sort that smells like rainy Tuesday night in Stoke.
Keylor Navas had to give back after a good finish from David Alaba, and when the return bounced up, it was the former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who got the ball in goal from close range.
– It is a fantastic move. He sweeps the ball and Kimpembe into goal, describes Hangeland.
– Now this quarter-final is completely on fire, exclaimed TV 2 commentator Øyvind Alsaker.
Bayern Munich could go to the break with a 1-0 lead, knowing that they would have to score again if there was to be a promotion.
Kept away
The start of the second half was more marked by a position war, although it was almost unbelievable when Neymar did not equalize after just over seven minutes.
The Brazilian was a few millimeters away from getting his foot on the ball after an excellent preparation by Ángel Di María.
For Bayern, it was Leroy Sané who seemed most dangerous, but neither did the German manage to score for a goal-chasing Bayern.
PSG kept away, and with 3-3 overall went on to away goals.
– There will probably be some soul-searching in Bavaria. They will probably wonder how they could waste so many chances over two games, Erik Thorstvedt thinks.
– I have to give my team a big compliment even if PSG is further. With one less setback at home, we would have been ahead, but I must also congratulate the winners, Bayern coach Hansi Flick told Sky.
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