Champions League: Bayern win at the Parc des Princes, Milan gain an advantage over Tottenham
In front of their own fans at the Parc des Princes, an ailing Paris Saint-Germain failed to find the answer to beat Bayern Munich
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Paris are still ailing. In front of their own fans, the French club, short on attacking ambition, deservedly lost to Bayern Munich (1-0) on Tuesday 14 February in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. Kingsley Coman, a former PSG player, scored the only goal of the game (53rd minute). With this away win, Bayern have one foot in the quarter-finals.
Out of sorts since the start of the year, including two defeats last week, PSG went into the game against Bayern Munich with plenty of doubts. And it is fair to say the night did nothing to reassure the capital club. Powerless, Christophe Galtier's side dug in, content to defend for almost 75 minutes. Ramos, who put in a solid performance, and his team-mates held off the Bayern attacks for a long time, but they eventually cracked in the 56th minute from a cross converted by Kingsley Coman.
Mbappé came close
Paris did try to respond, though. On the hour mark, Christophe Galtier brought on his main attacking weapon, Kylian Mbappé. The introduction of the star from Bondy, who has not yet fully recovered from his hamstring injury, completely changed the shape of the game. Lifted, Paris finally pushed forward and camped in the opposition half. Increasingly threatening, Mbappé thought he had snatched an equaliser for his side, but his goal was ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside by Nuno Mendes. PSG thus lose by the narrowest margin and now have to win at the Allianz Arena to have any hope of going through.
Milan regain confidence at home
Like PSG, AC Milan are not in their best form at the moment. But unlike the Parisians, the Rossoneri found some reassurance in front of their own fans on Tuesday in the first leg of the round of 16. Olivier Giroud and his team-mates got the better of Tottenham (1-0). Birahim Diaz punished the Spurs as early as the 7th minute. After that, Pape Matar Sarr, who started tonight, and his team-mates were too toothless to hope to get back on level terms. They will try to make amends in the second leg on 8 March.