They used their shield after one early swoosh of the sword, proof that Paris Saint-Germain can defend as well as dazzle. It was a performance of European champions, last season’s and most likely this.
For only the second time this campaign, Bayern Munich scored just one goal here at the Allianz Arena. That was as much because Luis Enrique’s brilliant visitors did not allow them any more, and only in the last minute of injury-time did Harry Kane fire a belated reply when two were needed to force extra-time.
But to be beaten by this PSG team is not a failure, really. They are superb. Arsenal, be warned. They scored in the third minute through Ousmane Dembele and, after the 5-4 spectacle of the first leg, here we had take-off, another match from another world. Or so we thought. Rather, PSG absorbed Bayern’s response, spirited and not without quality, but the hosts could not find a way through until it was too late. Far too late. PSG’s midfield of Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves were too smart, their defence too strong. Kane did not have a shot on target until his goal. The two he dispatched earlier were blocked before they had travelled barely a yard.
The contest had the worthy winners and it was a reminder of exactly why PSG are this continent’s best team. This stadium was the scene of their greatest night last May, their first Champions League trophy courtesy of a 5-0 demolition of Inter, a record scoreline in the competition’s final. That felt like the start of a new era of domination. This was an altogether different display, but that feeling of superiority remained.
But Bayern, over two legs, absolutely played their part. Budapest may have the curtain call later this month, but here in Munich we had the show-stoppers. This was the match, the sequel, for which we had waited eight days too many.
To be here in Bavaria this week has been to feel that child-like anticipation in the days before a birthday. That is what the first leg in Paris did to us all when it unfolded in a blur of brilliance last Tuesday night.
Holders PSG overcame Bayern Munich to set up a Champions League final against Arsenal
Ousmane Dembele scored inside three minutes to give PSG a two goal cushion in the tie
PSG proved they can defend as they restricted Bayern Munich from goalscoring chances
Harry Kane pulled one back for Bayern in stoppage time but it proved too late for the hosts
And yet, in the final 20 minutes at the Parc des Princes, after the last of the nine goals were scored, there was not the drama of what had gone before. Why? It was, in reality, approaching half-time, the gladiators were lowering their swords. They came out swinging when the cage doors opened here and, after just 144 seconds, PSG landed the blow that would ultimately prove fatal for Bayern.
The thunderclaps which began crackling at tea-time had served as nature’s countdown to kick off. The downpour with it slickened and quickened the playing surface, and on that did the visitors cut through Bayern with an unforgiving pace and precision. Dembele applied the finish, first time into the roof of the net, but the goal belonged as much to its creators, Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. They swapped passes on halfway, Ruiz’s ball to free his team-mate measured to perfection. The same could not be said of Kompany’s oversized lounge pants. His outfit was loud but it did not scream latter stages Champions League – Kvaratskhelia’s run and cross and Dembele’s ruthless steer did.
There was a defiance to both Kompany and Enrique pre-match, when inevitably pressed on whether, this time, conservatism would get their vote. Pragmatism, argued Kompany in three languages, was winning a football match, even if that meant ticking the box for liberalism. After PSG’s early goal, his team had no choice, they had to attack.
Come half-time they had fashioned chances, but there was nothing smart about the final execution. Perhaps that was because none of them fell to Kane. There was a Michael Olise shot, an opening created by Kane, that brushed the frame of the goal. There was then a Jamal Musiala run that was impressive, his finish less so. That one dart apart, Musiala struggled.
Bayern thought they should have had a penalty when Vitinha’s clearance struck the arm of Joao Neves, but the rules were applied correctly – playing the ball against a team-mate’s hand in such a circumstance is not a penalty. The home masses, their angry faces a colour match for their jerseys, clearly did not have a rulebook to hand. They were soon throwing beer at Dembele as he attempted to take a corner. A lighter, handed to the referee by Dembele, also formed part of the missile strike.
In truth, Bayern’s hopes of a recovery were already up in smoke. On the night, PSG were just too good. You suspect we’ll be saying the same in Budapest.
