How PSG Triumphed Over Bayern Munich with Nine Players in a Thrilling Club World Cup Showdown

Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosted what was undoubtedly the highlight of the quarter-finals in the Club World Cup.

Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain went toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga champions who recently set a record for the largest margin of victory in CWC history with a staggering 10-0 win over Auckland City. This result has drawn attention to FIFA’s questionable motivations in creating such a one-sided tournament.

However, as the competition progresses into more decisive stages, the playing field becomes more balanced. That said, the sparse crowds at several matches indicate that much work remains for FIFA to elevate the CWC to a prominent place in the football calendar.

Both teams come out firing

Before the match kicked off, Luis Enrique and his players were acutely aware of the threat posed by Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, and Michael Olise, all of whom had netted three goals each in earlier rounds of the tournament.

The French side also boasted enough attacking talent with Ousmane Dembele, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Desire Doue prepared to challenge the German defence, although Dembele started on the bench for this clash.

Shortly after Olise was dispossessed by Kvaratskhelia, Doue made an early impact, sending a shot just wide of the mark. This early effort underscored PSG’s determination on the second anniversary of Luis Enrique’s appointment as head coach.

As the match unfolded, PSG’s effective pressing was evident, making it challenging for Bayern to escape their half. When they did manage a foray forward, Olise’s weak shot suggested there was still room for improvement.

Bayern’s more robust approach came as no surprise, nor did PSG’s control of possession at the outset (61%).

PSG’s three-man defence allowed Bayern to find some rhythm, particularly through Konrad Laimer, who enjoyed space down the left flank. Bayern continually exploited their opponent’s commitment to attack.

By the quarter-hour mark, five Bayern players had completed 100% of their passes, a marked improvement over PSG’s players who, despite enjoying more possession, struggled to find their rhythm.

Nuno Mendes’ impressive defensive efforts helped stave off the Germans, although Bayern gained some momentum as the first half progressed.

By flooding the midfield, Bayern prevented PSG from getting their runners free, with Bradley Barcola managing just five touches as the clock approached the 20-minute mark. One of those touches did allow Achraf Hakimi to find space, yet his low cross failed to find Kvaratskhelia at the back post.

A thrilling encounter but no goals

From a subsequent goal kick, Bayern tried to exploit PSG’s high defensive line again, but their efforts went unrewarded.

PSG responded with a quick counter, leading to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who wasted a golden opportunity by sending his shot high when he should have scored.

Ruiz, along with Vitinha and Joao Neves, was seeing more of the ball than his teammates, yet it was Bayern’s Olise who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half-hour, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into a fine save with a fierce shot.

An exhilarating end-to-end battle was unfolding, with the crowd growing louder in anticipation.

The Bundesliga side were certainly finding more success in their attacking endeavours, with Laimer making eight passes in the final third alongside Olise.

Kvaratskhelia proved to be a constant threat, leaving Dayot Upamecano struggling to cope, requiring notable saves from Manuel Neuer to keep Bayern’s goal intact.

Bayern’s strategy involved sending 10 crosses into the box, compared to just two from PSG, indicating that the French side preferred a central approach while Bayern aimed to find Harry Kane with their wide play.

In the 38th minute, Kane nearly scored with a powerful header that skimmed just over the bar, thanks to a brilliant setup from Kingsley Coman. Just three minutes later, Donnarumma had to stretch to deny Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Upamecano’s diving header from an Olise free-kick in first-half stoppage time seemed to break the deadlock, but jubilant celebrations were cut short due to an offside flag.

Bayern’s relentless attacking play was a significant factor, as evidenced by their 12 successful dribbles in the first half and 44.2% possession in PSG’s final third leading up to half-time. By then, the overall possession stats were much closer, with Vitinha standing out with 23 successful passes from 26 attempts.

Both teams deserved praise for their energetic and purposeful display, though the half concluded with Donnarumma appearing bewildered after a significant collision with Musiala that left the crowd silent.

Intensity increases in the second half

Just three minutes after the resumption, Barcola found himself clear with Bayern’s defence nowhere in sight, but Neuer again made a crucial save, his third of the evening.

PSG came out with renewed intent after the break, improving their movement and passing. However, Kane set up Coman for a solo opportunity for Bayern, but Donnarumma was once again on hand to thwart the effort.

Nuno Mendes, who had already won 10 duels, provided the French side with added attacking strength when required, intensifying the encounter overall, with Olise and Barcola coming close to scoring.

With a combined total of 13 shots inside the box and 34 dribbles, the match maintained its thrilling pace, and it felt like the time was right for Dembele to shine.

On the 73rd minute, Neuer’s careless outing led to Dembele seizing the chance, but he squandered the opportunity with a glaring miss.

However, just four minutes later, PSG took the lead through Desire Doue, who capitalised on a midfield turnover after Kane was dispossessed, with Joao Neves assisting the 20-year-old—he was substituted shortly thereafter.

Bayern continued to press, and the red card shown to Willian Pacho came from a desperate attempt to halt Leon Goretzka’s run deep into PSG territory.

Despite holding a slight advantage in possession (52.4% to 47.6%), passing accuracy (82% to 76.7%), and interceptions (seven to six), Bayern found themselves trailing as time wound down.

Kane appeared to have levelled the score with one of his few touches in the PSG box, but another flawless offside trap by the Parisians kept the match within reach.

A second red card for PSG

Ongoing pressure from Bayern resulted in a second red card for PSG, this one handed to substitute Lucas Hernandez during the second of six minutes added by the referee.

Despite being reduced to just eight outfield players for the closing minutes, Dembele hit the crossbar before scoring PSG’s second, taking advantage of a lapse in concentration from the Bavarians that allowed Hakimi to provide a perfect assist.

Still, moments later, there looked to be a penalty on the horizon for Bayern, but after a VAR review, Anthony Taylor overturned the decision, keeping PSG in front.

The quarter-final clash certainly lived up to its high expectations, delivering an unforgettable spectacle. Simply epic.

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