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Paris St Germain (PSG) reached the Champions League semi-finals despite a 1-0 home defeat by holders Bayern Munich, on Tuesday, as they progressed on away goals.
This was after a 3-3 aggregate result in a thriller that was on a knife edge until the final whistle.
Bayern striker, Eric Choupo-Moting scored the only goal before the interval, but it was not enough to overturn the German side’s 3-2 loss in last week’s first leg.
Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG side, who struggled at times in Munich, had the clearest chances but lacked efficiency, with Neymar hitting the woodwork twice and Kylian Mbappe’s speed proving tough to handle, but with no end product.
PSG kept their composure in a nerve-wrecking finale to book a last-four spot against Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund, who play on Wednesday, as they aim to reach the final for the second year in a row in their third semi-final appearance.
Bayern eventually paid for the absence of injured talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski and forward Serge Gnabry, who had tested positive for COVID-19, while PSG managed to live without captain Marquinhos and influential midfielder Marco Verrati.
“Normally, my team has so much quality in the final third, but today they were lacking that final punch.
“We have to accept that, even though we would have liked a different outcome,” said Bayern coach, Hansi Flick, who added that he would decide on his future at the club at the end of the season
“Now we’re in the semi-finals and we can dream big,” said Neymar.
Pochettino added: “We were very focused. It was a really tough match – I’m really happy because the players deserve big credit. To win and qualify for the semi-finals is an amazing moment for us.”
PSG’s home form has been a cause for concern this season, but this time they did not freeze and proved extremely dangerous on the break throughout the match.
Without the injured Marquinhos, Danilo started alongside Presnel Kimpembe in central defence for the French champions, while Bayern were also without Leon Goretzka in the midfield.
Flick’s team created danger in the box repeatedly in the closing stages but the home defence held firm as PSG avenged last year’s 1-0 final defeat by Bayern.
Reuters
