Bayern vs PSG

For the fifth time in seven years, PSG's expensively assembled squad has been knocked out in the Champions League last 16, this time by Bayern.

We had a lot of important absentees in the first game and in the second game. Had a golden chance to open the scoring for PSG in the first half, but he wasn't clinical enough with the empty goal gaping. In the end, we deserved to win" [Sadio Mane](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/169797/Sadio-Mané), who replaced Musiala as a late substitute, or [Leroy Sane](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/202641/Leroy-Sané). Yet he joined PSG in 2021 with the challenge of helping the French team finally win their first Champions League, and for the second successive season, he and PSG have gone out in the round of 16. Right now, though, only Musiala is looking like the kind of world-class player that Bayern used to have in abundance. The Bayern star dominated the midfield and his first-half shoulder charge on Messi summed up how he approached this game. This isn't a vintage Bayern team, but nobody will want to face them in the latter stages simply because they know how to win in this competition. This might just have been the game in which Messi saw his last chance of one more Champions League crown disappear forever. Bayern had to weather an early PSG storm before taking control of this game, but once Choupo-Moting put them ahead on 60 minutes, the tie was in the bag. In continental competition, all PSG's Qatari owners have to show for their mammoth investment in the club is one final appearance. PSG, who lost to Bayern in Lisbon, Portugal, in their only Champions League final appearance to date in 2020, crashed out 3-0 on aggregate after losing the first-leg 1-0 in Paris.

The Germans were far and away the better team and advanced to the Champions League quarterfinal.

Gambled on Marquinhos which did not work. Captain after Marquinhos was forced off, Messi's isolation did not help him. It was a tenacious and risk-taking approach which was working until he got caught in possession and Bayern scored. Saw a great chance thwarted by De Ligt on the line. Underrated, as always, he was reasonably solid for much of the game. He made some great interceptions at the back while he won a few aerial battles at key moments and tested Sommer in the second half. He pulled up short in the warm-up so to go that far was impressive. How did the manager do? Lively and just so smooth, carrying the ball forward to get the attack going. He had a couple of his vtrademark surging runs, but it was his unselfishness to set up Choupo-Moting that cemented his fine performance. A monster at the back. Some curious play at times, especially giving the ball away for a golden chance for Vitinha.