Powerless, helpless and almost even goalless – FC Bayern has never been seen like that this season. The Munich team found their match in Paris St. Germain on Wednesday evening. The 1-1 draw in the semi-final second leg of the Champions League meant that the dream of reaching the final and possibly winning a treble was dashed.
And the Munich team will have to be honest: the defeat against the defending champions is well deserved. Paris was one goal better offensively in the exciting 5:4 in the first leg and was outstanding defensively in the second leg. If Manuel Neuer hadn’t kept his team in the game for a long time with several saves, the decision in this duel would probably have been made much earlier.
So Bayern were able to hope until the end, but Harry Kane’s equalizing goal came too late and even after it was scored, there was no real jolt from the team in red. The German champions had put in an enormous effort in the 90 and a few minutes, but the result was poor that day.
Michael Olise was practically a non-factor on the right, especially in the second half, and on the other wing Luis Díaz ran his lungs out, only to have another one in front of him after going around one opponent. And Kane? Had exactly this one chance, which he exploited with his own class.
Of course, the game couldn’t have started worse than with the goal conceded in the third minute. Bayern nibbled on this for a long time, ultimately too long. Paris was able to let Munich come after that, closed everything down in front of their own penalty area and doubled up on the wings.
As a result, apart from Kane’s goal, there was no real 100% chance of scoring. This had never happened before under Vincent Kompany this season. The will was definitely there, but Bayern often seemed too impetuous, while Paris, on the other hand, acted much more cleverly.
Of course: There were the controversial scenes in the first half, when there could have been a dismissal after a handball against the guests, and a little later the whole stadium demanded a handball penalty. But referee Joao Pinheiro didn’t allow himself to be softened and it is quite significant for this game that Bayern should have hoped for a bit of luck from the referee.
While the first leg was a football spectacle with its nine goals, the second leg was determined by tactics until the end. Paris didn’t have to after the early lead, Munich couldn’t.
For Bayern, this season will probably go down in history as unfinished, despite all their successes. After all, the Bundesliga championship is a given and victory in the DFB Cup is to some extent expected at the club every season. But the Champions League is the real competition for a team that dominates so much nationally. Not being able to win the title here in the end is a bitter disappointment.
Because it’s also true: FC Bayern had the class to win the European title this season, but at the crucial moment, Paris St. Germain was a team that was a bit better.
So what remains for the people of Munich? The hope for a new attempt in the coming season. And this much can already be said: With this coach, this team should also be a hot contender for victory in the Champions League in 2026/27. Which is ultimately little consolation after an elimination that the club probably didn’t see coming.