KINGSLEY COMAN haunted Paris Saint-German for the second time in three years as Bayern Munich moved a step closer to the Champions League quarter-finals.
It was the French forward, 26, who scoring the winning goal between these two teams to settle the infamous behind-closed-doors 2020 Final.
And the Paris-born star was the difference tonight in this Last 16 first-leg tie – even though he refused to celebrate out of respect for his former club.
It was a frustrating night for PSG mega-stars Lionel Messi, Neymar and injury-hit Kylian Mbappe – the most expensive attacking line-up ever assembled in club football – as their hopes of progressing lie in the balance.
PSG have lost at this stage of the tournament four times in the previous six seasons.
And if they forget their shooting boots for the trip to Bavaria on Wednesday March 8 they will exit early once again.
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This tie took place the day after Uefa criticised heavy-handed Parisian coppers for their ‘defective’ handling of the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
French police were blamed for losing control outside the Stade de France last May and unnecessarily pepper-spraying innocent ticket-carrying Liverpool fans who had been denied entry.
So, images of riot officers charging Bayern supporters pre-match at the Parc des Princes was not something the governing body would have wanted to witness.
In the build-up, the Ligue 1 side had suffered two consecutive defeats and there had been an explosive dressing-room bust-up last Saturday between Neymar and a senior club official.
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Head coach Christophe Galtier’s tenure in the French capital depends on European glory and his initial tactical decision that PSG should sit back, soak up the Bayern pressure and hit on the counter-attack was not liked by the crowd.
Boos from the home fans began as early as the sixth minute as the German champions bossed possession.
Yet from an attacking perspective, it was a first half devoid any real quality and neither goalkeeper was put in an uncomfortable position.
The closest the visitors came was in the 43rd minute when a driven attempt by Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich was saved well by PSG’s No.99 Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG centre-half Sergio Ramos was brilliant in the first half but like the rest of the home defence he went missing when substitute Alphonso Davies floated over a cross on 53 minutes.
On his 50th appearance at this level, Coman provided a superb first-time finish with the inside of his right foot which squirmed underneath Donnarumma.
Within the space of three minutes, Italian stopper Donnarumma kept the score down with two fine saves to deny Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting – the second of which he tipped on to the woodwork – as well as an exceptional reaction to stop a Benjamin Pavard header.
Mbappe, who had been touch-and-go with a hamstring complaint, came off the bench shortly after that sucker punch and his presence lifted the entire mood of the place and added a tremendous spark.
But the equaliser never came even though he forced one close-range save from Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer and had TWO GOALS correctly disallowed for offside.
It was a memorable night for midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery, who at the age of 16 years and 343 days became the youngest starter ever in a Champions League knockout game.
The English officiating team in Paris – led by the ever-reliable Premier League referee Michael Oliver – had a fairly quiet evening until stoppage time.
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Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard was sent off for a second yellow card when he brought down Messi fractions outside the penalty area.
But the fact Uefa gave VAR responsibilities to a Polish ref, not an English one, speaks volumes for the respect they have for the Prem’s top video guys…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
