Bayern hand PSG their first UCL defeat

Paris Saint-Germain have suffered their first Champions League defeat of the season at the hands of the unbeaten Bayern Munich. 

The German champions had two goals ahead in the first 35 minutes through Luiz Diaz, who was sent off for an ankle-breaker on Achraf Hakimi. João Neves halved the deficit in the second half and almost got a leveller, but the Bundesliga side held on for another win.

Both sides went into the clash boasting a 100 % record in the competition. 

Bayern brought the game to their hosts, showing their title credentials with a ball recovery high up the pitch. This allowed Serge Gnabry to feed Michael Olise, who was denied by Lucas Chevalier, but Luis Diaz was there to collect and fire the ball home four minutes into the game.

PSG continued to struggle to contain Bayern’s suffocating press as Les Parisiens’ midfield trio were uncharacteristically bullied, and their attack looked unsettled.

Luis Enrique risked Ousmane Dembélé by putting him in the starting lineup. The Ballon d’Or winner struggled to make his mark for what seemed a surprise start and eventually found the back of Manuel Neuer’s net, but he was offside. 

The recurring injury was the problem again as he limped off the pitch before the half-hour mark to be replaced by Lee Kang-in.

Bayern added to PSG’s problems when Diaz got his brace. The Colombian punished Marquinhos for losing possession too easily. 

 Bradley Barcola had a great chance to equalise, but the French winger toed his effort straight at Neuer.

Bayern were reduced to ten men deep into the first half stoppages as Diaz needlessly took down Achraf Hakimi with a two-footed tackle that caught the Moroccan’s left ankle. He was initially booked but could not escape a harsher punishment from Maurizio Mariani, as the replay clearly shows he endangered his opponent’s safety. This left Hakimi in serious pain, and the Moroccan was replaced by Senny Mayulu.

PSG then continued to launch waves of attacks against their visitors in the second half, but a lack of end product and the brilliance of Dayot Upamecano helped Bayern to hold on. 

Luis Enrique called on Portugal internationals Gonçalo Ramos and João Neves from the bench, and the latter gave them a lifeline.  

After testing Neuer with a vicious dipping shot from distance, PSG finally scored. Neves brilliantly connected Lee Kang-in’s left-footed cross from the right to make it 2-1.

PSG continued with their onslaught, and Vincent Kompany proceeded to close up shop with the introductions of Kim Min-jae and Leon Goretzka at the expense of Michael Olise and Harry Kane.

The Bundesliga champion then held on to go home with a slender lead, extending their perfect record this season.