MUNICH: Bayern Munich crushed Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 and dashed all their hopes in the Champions League in the second leg of their last-16 encounter, securing a place in the quarter-finals with a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put Bayern in front on the night at the Allianz Arena and substitute Serge Gnabry wrapped up the victory a minute from time. Bayern were deserving winners against a lacklustre PSG side, for whom neither Kylian Mbappe nor Lionel Messi had the anticipated impact on the game while Neymar was absent with an ankle injury.
It is the second season in a row that PSG have been knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16, and the fifth time in the last seven campaigns the Qatar-owned club have failed to advance beyond the first knockout round.
The absence of captain Marquinhos due to a rib problem and his replacement, Nordi Mukiele, having to be substituted at half-time due to an injury in defence did not aid PSG’s cause.
Vitinha had an opportunity to put the French champions in front in the first half, but Matthijs de Ligt cleared his attempt off the line.
Leon Goretzka set up the unmarked Choupo-Moting for an easy finish after Marco Verratti had been dispossessed in his own box, and Bayern took the lead just after the hour mark.
Sergio Ramos was the closest PSG came to getting back into the game before Gnabry sealed Bayern’s victory late on.
Read more:
