Bayern Munich secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in a Champions League encounter that saw Luis Díaz score twice before being sent off. The win marks Bayern's 16th consecutive victory in all competitions this season, solidifying their position as strong contenders in the Champions League.
The match began with Bayern displaying intense attacking intent. In the 4th minute, Serge Gnabry's flick set up Michael Olise, whose shot was parried by PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, only for Díaz to pounce on the rebound and fire home the opening goal. Bayern continued to press, disrupting PSG's rhythm and forcing errors. Ousmane Dembélé thought he had equalized for PSG midway through the first half, but his goal was ruled out for offside. In the 32nd minute, Díaz capitalized on a mistake by PSG captain Marquinhos, stealing the ball and calmly slotting it past Chevalier to double Bayern's lead.
However, Díaz's eventful evening took a turn when he was shown a straight red card just before halftime for a reckless challenge on Achraf Hakimi. The initial yellow card was upgraded after a VAR review. Hakimi was forced off the pitch due to the challenge.
The second half saw PSG mount a determined comeback attempt. They dominated possession, pinning Bayern back in their own half. Bayern's goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, was called into action, denying efforts from Bradley Barcola and Vitinha. PSG finally broke through in the 74th minute when substitute João Neves acrobatically scored from a cross by Lee Kang-in, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Neves had another chance to equalize, but his header went narrowly wide. Despite PSG's pressure, Bayern's defense stood firm, securing the victory.
PSG captain Marquinhos acknowledged the difficulty of losing at home, stating the need for the team to assert themselves and improve their performance. He noted that they faced a well-organized team, especially physically, and struggled to find their rhythm.
The victory puts Bayern at the top of their Champions League group with the maximum of 12 points. PSG are third in the group, three points behind Bayern. The match also resulted in injury concerns for PSG, with both Hakimi and Dembélé being substituted early.
