PSG crash out of Champions League as Gnabry seals victory for Bayern

PSG suffered more Champions League disappointment as Bayern’s professional display earned a 2-0 second-leg win at the Allianz Arena and sent them through to the quarter-finals.

Christophe Galtier’s PSG side arrived in Munich trailing 1-0 after defeat at the Parc des Princes, knowing they had to end Bayern’s long unbeaten run on home soil if they were to avoid a fifth last-16 exit in seven years.

The tie was still firmly in the balance after a goalless 45 minutes, but Eric Choupo-Moting, having had one goal chalked off, did finally get himself on the scoresheet and Serge Gnabry put the finishing touches on a job well done late on, sealing a comfortable 3-0 aggregate win.

Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi were unable to have an impact for PSG as the visitors struggled to make an impact, marking it down as another season in which the club’s all-star ensemble have failed to deliver the craved European success.

PSG made a decent enough start in Munich, with Mbappe causing problems in behind from the opening minutes and getting a couple of shots away from tight angles. Messi had an effort blocked himself, and was then unable to bundle home from the ensuing scramble.

The best chance came when Yann Sommer went strolling out with the ball from his goal without a care in the world and was duly dispossessed. Vitinha was faced with an open goal, but his shot allowed Matthijs de Ligt time to get back and produced a brilliant clearance on the line.

🙌 WIR SIND IM VIERTELFINALEEEEEEEEE! 🔴⚪#MIASANMIA #FCBPSG pic.twitter.com/HCqw4TSV7b

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) March 8, 2023

That was as good as it got for PSG, with Bayern showing a ruthless edge after the break. Choupo-Moting’s flicked header found the far corner, but was seemingly harshly ruled out for offside due to Thomas Muller’s involvement at the back post.

The striker was not to be denied though and got his 17th goal of the seaason. Marco Verratti was caught on the edge of his own box, Leon Goretzka squared the ball and Choupo-Moting was left with the simplest of finishes.

Sergio Ramos was PSG’s chief threat as they pushed for the two goals they needed in the final half an hour. One header was superbly saved by Yann Sommer, with another powered just wide.

A later charge never looked like materialising and Bayern ensured there were to be no stoppage-time nerves. Verratti once again lost out, this time at the other end of the pitch, and the hosts broke at pace. Joao Cancelo led the counter, played the pass through to Gnabry and he put the finishing touch on a clinical display.