Dayot Upamecano’s Dominance Leaves PSG Frustrated

Bayern Munich is on a remarkable streak! The club is currently leading the Bundesliga and has achieved a perfect record this season with 16 wins in all competitions. On Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes, they showcased their impressive form once again. With Luis Diaz scoring twice—despite a serious foul on Achraf Hakimi—the team managed to secure their fourth consecutive victory in European competition. Tied on points with Arsenal at the top of their league phase, Bayern continues to impress. Dayot Upamecano’s performance in the French capital was particularly noteworthy.

Playing alongside Jonathan Tah in central defense, Upamecano delivered an exceptional display. The 27-year-old French international, with 34 caps and 2 goals, was a dominant force. He excelled in aerial battles, showed strong ground interventions, and maintained solid positioning, leaving PSG attackers frustrated. This included a stunning recovery against Nuno Mendes during the first half. Rated 7 by the FM editorial team, Upamecano received deserved praise from his coach at the final whistle.

An Impressive Versatility

“Matches like this are finely balanced. There are three or four moments where if we lose the second ball… Every time we’ve played against PSG, it has turned on those moments. PSG plays with incredible intensity and pressure, as do we. It all comes down to a few recovery situations. Teamwork benefits from individual talent. Without Upamecano winning his duels, or Laimer battling Barcola, it’s impossible to succeed in this type of game,” noted Vincent Kompany in the press conference. Upamecano’s versatility in the first half, combined with his relentless running to break through PSG’s high block, allowed him to effectively support his team, especially when they were down to ten men following Diaz’s red card.

With 4 balls recovered, 1 interception, 3 duels won, and 100% successful tackles, Upamecano confirmed his status as one of the most reliable defenders in football. This performance reinforces Bayern’s desire to extend his contract. “I’ve often said we want to do our job and extend Upamecano’s contract. We’ve communicated this clearly, and we’re working on it,” said sporting director Max Eberl after the match. Delighted with Upamecano’s performance, who is under contract until June 2026, Eberl also praised his partnership with Jonathan Tah. “I would give them both a rating of 1 (the highest rating in Germany). They fully deserve it,” he added. It’s hard to argue against that…