Paris Saint-Germain put in a professional and positive display to claim a 1-1 draw away at Bayern Munich and set up a Champions League final with Arsenal on May 30 via a 6-5 aggregate win.
This was not the 5-4 classic tie of a week ago, even though it threatened to be when Ousmane Dembele got the goalscoring ball rolling after three minutes by crashing home the dangerous Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cross.
But PSG put in a really mature display to stifle the German champions. Bayern’s threat looked limited – Michael Olise looked the brightest spark when he curled over in the first half, while Harry Kane’s late consolation seemed undeserved.
There was a first-half controversy, however, as Bayern felt Nuno Mendes should have been sent off for deliberate handball when already on a booking. Referee Joao Pinheiro gave the foul in the opposite direction for a questionable handball by Konrad Laimer.
Then, in a bizarre incident, Joao Neves appeared to clearly handle inside the box after Vitinha’s clearance – but the rules state a player cannot be penalised for handball if it inadvertently touches him after being kicked by a team-mate. Both irked Vincent Kompany at full-time.
Despite a two-goal aggregate deficit at half-time, Bayern did not look like the team most likely to score after the break.
Desire Doue and the exciting Kvaratskhelia both tested Manuel Neuer after the break, while substitute Bradley Barcola went close late on, as Bayern struggled for answers.
PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov only had comfortable saves from Olise and Luis Diaz in the second half to deal with. That was until Kane crashed home a left-footed finish with his only real opportunity of the night. It came in 94 minutes.
For Bayern, who had scored at least three times in each of their last six home games coming into this, Kompany’s treble hopes have gone up in smoke.
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