Are Bayern Munich now favourites for this season's Champions League?
PSG 1 - 2 Bayern Munich
Luis Díaz struck twice as Bayern Munich extended their flawless start to the season with a statement victory over defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Author | Andrea
Stadium | Parc des Princes
The win was Bayern’s 16th in a row in all competitions and their fourth straight in the Champions League, keeping Vincent Kompany’s side at the top of the league phase table.
Díaz endured a dramatic evening, scoring both goals before being dismissed on the stroke of half-time for a reckless challenge on Achraf Hakimi. The Moroccan full-back left the pitch in tears with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury and was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches and wearing a protective boot.
A closer analysis of what happened
In a frantic first half at the Parc des Princes, Bayern pressed high and were rewarded when Díaz opened the scoring after just four minutes. Ousmane Dembélé thought he had equalised midway through the half, chesting in from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The Ballon d’Or winner was then forced off moments later with a calf problem.
Bayern continued to threaten, with Serge Gnabry twice denied by the woodwork in quick succession, before Díaz doubled the lead in the 32nd minute after pouncing on a loose pass from Marquinhos and finishing calmly.
The Colombia winger’s night turned sour just before the break when a yellow card for his challenge on Hakimi was upgraded to a red following a VAR review.
PSG threw everything forward after the interval but found Bayern’s defence, marshalled by Manuel Neuer, in defiant form. The hosts eventually halved the deficit when substitute João Neves acrobatically beat Neuer with a bicycle kick 16 minutes from time, sparking a late onslaught.
Neuer produced several outstanding saves to deny Neves, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Vitinha as Bayern held on to inflict PSG’s first defeat of the competition.
The best team in the competition?
Bayern began their campaign in style by beating Stuttgart to lift the German Super Cup on 16 August, and they have not looked back since.
Vincent Kompany’s side sit five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after winning all nine of their league matches, scoring 33 goals and conceding only four. They have also claimed four victories in the Champions League and two in the German Cup to underline their dominance on all fronts.
