UCL: Bayern ease past PSG to reach final eight; AC Milan pip Tottenham to join
Bayern Munich recorded a 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash at Allianz Arena to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Bundesliga champions held a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Paris, with Kingsley Coman’s effort early in the second period proving enough for the Bundesliga champions to claim the victory on February 14.
Wednesday’s second leg almost brought the same scoreline, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting registering against his former club in the 61st minute, but Bayern made it more comfortable in the closing moments when Serge Gnabry converted on the counter-attack to send the hosts into the final eight of the European Cup.
PSG’s Champions League woes continue, with the French giants still awaiting their first trophy in the competition, while Bayern will go in search of their seventh European Cup this term.
The visitors had a half-chance inside the first two minutes when a smart move involving Fabian Ruiz saw Kylian Mbappe released into a dangerous area down the left, but the forward’s low cross was well claimed by Yann Sommer between the home side’s sticks.
Mbappe was the obvious threat to Bayern, with the visitors looking to work the ball into the Frenchman whenever possible; the attacker actually had the ball in the back of the home side’s net in the 14th minute following a challenge on Sommer, but it was a clear foul on the goalkeeper.
Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka then tested PSG stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma with a powerful drive in the 16th minute, before Mbappe found the side netting three minutes later down the other end.
PSG had another opportunity in the 25th minute when Lionel Messi’s deflected shot caused panic inside the Bayern box, but Sommer and Matthijs de Ligt managed to combine to prevent the Argentine from scoring.
Bayern then had a chance of their own seven minutes later, with Jamal Musiala working space inside the PSG box before looking to pick out the bottom corner, but Donnarumma was on hand to make a smart save.
The visitors were forced into a change in the 36th minute, with Marquinhos leaving the field through injury, which saw Nordi Mukiele enter for the French champions.
There was then an incredible moment in the 38th minute when Sommer was caught on the ball by Achraf Hakimi in a dangerous area; Vitinha appeared certain to score from inside the box, but De Ligt was on hand to make a stunning goal-line clearance for the home team.
Bayern started the second period on the front foot, and Choupo-Moting had a shout for a penalty before the forward blocked a goal-bound attempt from his own teammate Joshua Kimmich.
The hosts thought that they had taken the lead in the 52nd minute when Choupo-Moting found the back of the net with a header, but it was disallowed for an offside on Muller, even though the German did not appear to touch the ball before it landed into the back of the net.
Bayern did take the lead just past the hour, though, and this time Choupo-Moting had his goal, with the experienced forward finding the back of the net after a pass from Goretzka, with Marco Verratti losing the ball to Thomas Muller in a dangerous area.
Sommer made a wonderful save to keep out a Sergio Ramos header in the 65th minute. before the Bayern goalkeeper was on hand to keep out an effort from Mbappe, with PSG looking to give themselves an opportunity to set up a grandstand finish.
Leroy Sane hit the side-netting with an attempt in the 75th minute, before Ramos headed just wide of the post with another powerful effort down the other end in the 82nd minute, and it was end-to-end heading into the latter stages, with Bayern so dangerous on the counter-attack.
PSG continued to press, but the home side made sure of the victory in the closing stages when a fast break ended with Gnabry picking out the far corner to secure a 3-0 aggregate success.
Sadio Mane thought that he had added another for Bayern in the final exchanges, with PSG all over the place at the back, but the substitute’s effort was disallowed for offside.
Milan ended their long wait for a place in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League after a 0-0 draw with Tottenham confirmed a 1-0 aggregate success.
The Rossoneri looked the more likely side to extend their aggregate advantage in a cagey opening half, Junior Messias spurning two opportunities.
The 31-year-old dragged his low effort across the face of goal after a well-worked free-kick routine, before blasting a left-footed strike high into the crowd after cutting in from the left following good work by Rafael Leão.
The hosts managed to get themselves into promising positions in the first 45 minutes, but were ultimately unable to pick out their attackers in the opposition box.
Milan began brightest after the restart too and almost doubled their lead across the tie when first-leg match-winner Brahim Díaz burst into the box but Fraser Forster was alert to the shot at his near post.
It took until after the hour for Antonio Conte’s men to force Mike Maignan into meaningful action, the French international acrobatically tipping over Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s fierce shot.
The match gradually opened up and former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud hooked straight at Forster from close range, while home captain Harry Kane was unable to steer a stooping header on target just moments later.
Tottenham looked to step up a gear in the closing stages, but their task was made tougher when Cristian Romero was dismissed with just under 15 minutes remaining for a second bookable offence.
There was a flurry of activity in added time as both sides pressed for a late winner, Kane’s powerful header pushed away by Maignan. Milan broke immediately and substitute Divock Origi clipped the inside of the upright from the edge of the box, though it mattered not in the end.
