Football: Bayern cruise past PSG to reach Champions League last eight
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MUNICH - Bayern Munich forward Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting scored against his former club and Serge Gnabry added a late second as the Germans beat Paris St Germain 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
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The 33-year-old Choupo-Moting, who played for PSG from 2018-20, tapped in from Leon Goretzkaâs assist in the 61st minute and substitute Gnabry struck in the 89th minute to seal the hostsâ 3-0 aggregate win after a 1-0 victory in Paris.
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The Germans made sure of their last-eight spot after shutting out PSG superstars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe and are one of the title favourites going into the last eight.
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âIn the first half, we didnât do what we had talked about t before very well,â Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said. âThere was too much space.
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âBut we defended better in the second half and were dangerous on the ball. In the end, we deserved to win.â
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âIf we show maximum hunger with emotion and we couple that with our quality then we can achieve anything.â
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PSGâs long wait to win Europeâs premier club trophy for the first time goes on.
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Without injured forward Neymar, the French team were sharper in the early stages and went close through Mbappe and a double effort from Messi in the 25th minute.
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Bayern gradually took control, however, and had a chance when Jamal Musialaâs 32nd-minute shot was blocked by keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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Despite PSG captain Marquinhos being taken off with a rib injury in the 36th minute, the visitors almost went ahead when under-pressure Bayern keeper Yann Sommer lost possession in the box.
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Vitinhaâs shot with the goal at his mercy was cleared on the line by Matthijs de Ligt in what proved to be a pivotal moment in the game.
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The Dutch defender had made an almost identical stop against VfB Stuttgart in the league last week.
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With Mbappe largely quiet, it was in-form Choupo-Moting who struck just past the hour for his 17th goal in all competitions this season.
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PSG attempted to bounce back instantly and Sergio Ramosâ header was saved by Sommer before the Spaniard headed wide but their hopes were shattered when Gnabry rounded off a quick break with the second Bayern goal.
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âWe did not manage to score when we were on top of things,â PSG coach Christophe Galtier said.
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âThen we concede a ridiculous goal. What made the difference is the fact we missed some key players in both legs. Itâs a big disappointment but we have to swallow it.â
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The quarter-final draw will take place on March 17.
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C. (2023e, March 8). Football: Bayern cruise past PSG to reach Champions League last eight. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-bayern-cruise-past-psg-to-reach-champions-league-last-eight