Paris Saint-Germain has found its nemesis. On Tuesday night, Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 victory in the fourth match of the UEFA Champions League group stage. This win made Bayern the only team to achieve three consecutive away wins against PSG in this prestigious competition, following two previous 1-0 victories in April 2021 and February 2023. The triumph allowed Vincent Kompany’s side to reclaim the top spot in the standings, tied with Arsenal, which defeated Slavia Prague earlier that evening. More than just the victory, Bayern displayed clear superiority during the first half.
The first half saw both teams play with eleven members, but PSG struggled considerably. Bayern was tactically superior and effectively utilized their experience in high-stakes matches. The German club capitalized on PSG’s vulnerabilities, particularly through Luis Diaz, who played a pivotal role. After PSG lost possession in midfield, Diaz scored following a rebound from Olise’s shot, putting Bayern ahead early on (0-1 in the 4th minute). He was actively involved in tormenting the PSG defense and eventually doubled the lead due to another individual error.
A Double and a Dangerous Tackle
Marquinhos hesitated under pressure, allowing the 28-year-old Diaz to take the ball from him. Showing composure, Diaz scored again with a clear right-footed shot (0-2 in the 32nd minute). However, his coolness faltered just before halftime. In a challenging encounter with Achraf Hakimi, Diaz was sent off after a dangerous tackle that left Hakimi needing to leave the field. The referee issued a direct red card after consulting VAR. Despite PSG’s attempts to dominate after halftime and Joao Neves scoring, Luis Diaz remained a key figure in Bayern’s victory in Paris (2-1).
Diaz received a 7 rating from FM and was named Man of the Match for his impactful performance against PSG. After the match, Vincent Kompany defended his player, stating, “He didn’t do it on purpose. The intensity of the match can lead to unfortunate incidents. However, I hope Hakimi will recover quickly and it won’t be as severe as what happened to us with Musiala against PSG.” While the duration of Hakimi’s injury remains unknown, PSG certainly has no fond memories of Luis Diaz’s performance in their home ground.
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