Kingsley Coman refused to celebrate at the Parc des Princes
Kingsley Coman scored another crucial Champions League goal against his previous club Paris Saint-Germain to give Bayern Munich a 1-0 lead in their last-16 clash.
Coman, who was born in Paris, scored the game-winning goal when Bayern defeated PSG in the final three years ago, and he repeated the feat at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
Bayern deserved to win the first leg, and the Bundesliga giants will hope they don’t pay the price for prevailing by one goal against a PSG side who played without Kylian Mbappe until the 57th minute.
Mbappe, who had returned from injury, was inserted immediately after Coman’s goal but was unable to ignite a comeback, with a late equalizer being disallowed – but his involvement in the return match in Germany could yet be decisive.
PSG were thoroughly overwhelmed without Mbappe from the start, though Coman’s score early in the second half was their first clear-cut opportunity.
The winger’s strike from Alphonso Davies’ cross was near to Gianluigi Donnarumma, but it slipped past the goalkeeper, who has yet to maintain a clean sheet in the Champions League this season.
Mbappe’s arrival had no effect on Bayern, and Donnarumma was far more brilliant in keeping PSG in the game, making excellent saves from Eric Choupo-Moting and Benjamin Pavard.
Finally, with 17 minutes remaining, Mbappe got through at the opposite end, but Yann Sommer bravely blocked, and the PSG striker was still offside when Neymar’s ensuing shot was spilt at his feet.
The linesman’s decision was easy, but the VAR was called after Nuno Mendes sprinted in behind and squared for Mbappe to score. The jubilation were cut short as replays revealed that the left-back had been offside.
Despite Pavard’s dismissal in stoppage time for a second bookable offense, Bayern maintains control heading back to Bavaria.
What does it imply? Bayern wins in Parc des Princes.
PSG will undoubtedly rue not having Mbappe available from the start, but Bayern also struggled in the first half.
The home side lacked ambition without their main player, and their wait until first-half stoppage time for a first effort was the longest in a Champions League match since at least 2003-04, but a low block held Bayern at bay.
However, Donnarumma’s error changed the rhythm of play, as Bayern found delight practically every time they moved forward for a while, demonstrating how difficult the second leg could be for PSG as they chase the game.
Coman is the man once more.
Coman started as a wing-back, left in the first half and right in the second, although due to Bayern’s early domination, his defensive responsibilities were minimal. He might instead concentrate on hurting PSG on the opposite end – yet again.
The former PSG man joined Moussa Dembele and Nordi Mukiele as the only French players to score in the Champions League away against the Ligue 1 side. Only against PSG has Coman scored multiple times in the knockout stage.
PSG is looking for a repeat performance.
If this was a rematch of the teams’ last meeting, PSG will be hoping that the second leg will be similar to their previous two-leg match versus Bayern.
Despite losing 1-0 at home, PSG eliminated then-defending champions Bayern Munich in 2020-21. PSG advanced to the semi-finals with a 3-2 victory in Germany, then in the first leg, with Mbappe scoring twice.
Facts about Opta
- Bayern Munich has won all seven of their Champions League matches this season, only the second time in their history, joining 2019-20 when they won all 11 games.
- PSG has already lost five games in all competitions in 2023, one more than they did in 2022. (four in 46 games). For the first time since August-September 2020, they have experienced three consecutive defeats in all competitions, one of which came against Bayern in the pandemic-delayed 2019-20 Champions League final.
- Coman scored the game-winning goal in his 50th Champions League appearance. It marks his 39th victory in the competition, the most by a player in their first 50 games in the competition’s history.
- Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain became the youngest player to start a Champions League knockout match, breaking the previous record established by Bojan Krkic of Barcelona against Schalke in April 2008. (17 years, 217 days).
- Before Zaire-Emery was born, teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos made their Champions League debuts. Ramos faced Arsenal in a last-16 encounter for Real Madrid on the same day Zaire-Emery was born (March 8, 2006).
- Coman has been involved in seven goals in his last 11 appearances for Bayern in this competition (3 goals, 4 assists).
What comes next?
PSG will look to halt a three-match losing streak in all competitions against Lille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, while Bayern will play Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
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