Paris missed its first run. Beaten at home (0-1) Tuesday in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League by Bayern Munich, PSG is now condemned to win in Bavaria in three weeks to continue its European journey. The fault of this first round at the Parc des Princes, where the Parisians conceded for the first time since 2011 their third defeat in a row, where Christophe Galtier’s men suffered too much. As the match stats show.
PSG fired less
This is the most striking figure of this match tackled on the defensive by the players of the capital. Confined in his camp in the first period, PSG only shot once in the first period, against nine attempts counted on the Bavarian side. The balance sheet improved in the second act, where the Parisians were able to rely on the entry of Kylian Mbappé, but it remains in favor of the Munich residents. In all, Bayern took 17 shots, setting seven on target and scoring through Kingsley Coman.
The PSG players tried their luck nine times, but only scored four shots. In detail, Neymar, Mbappé, Marquinhos and Vitinha managed to grab the frame. Lionel Messi fired twice, but his shots were blocked before the goal. “A team like PSG is a team that must dominate, we are not used to being dominated, regretted Kylian Mbappé after the meeting. In the second half, we saw that when we play with a lot more personality, we put them in difficulty and we are able to score goals and be dangerous. »
PSG ran less
PSG is not the most athletic formation in the competition, far from it. And the meeting on Tuesday evening showed it again. Against Bayern, Christophe Galtier’s players ran less than their opponents. According to UEFA figures, the Parisians covered 110.4 kilometers compared to 118.3 km on the German side. That is eight kilometers apart in total.
“You can’t change the characteristics of players like that. We have more profiles of players who ask for the ball at their feet, admitted Christophe Galtier after the meeting. Not to mention them, Neymar and Messi. This means that you have to find depth and verticality with Kylian or Nuno Mendes. This volume of races is nothing new. These are the characteristics of the players of this season. Our record for the season, to give you an idea, was in Monaco (3-1 defeat). »
PSG made fewer mistakes
Regrouped then more offensive, the Parisians were on arrival less sanctioned by the referee Michael Oliver than the Munich residents. In all, the Germans committed 18 faults, and the Parisians eight. And if each team received two yellow cards, the Bavarians finished at ten after the expulsion of Benjamin Pavard, who took the two yellow cards from Bayern (26th, 90th).
But overall, Bayern Munich delivered a stronger game than their opponents. “We did a good job, but it’s only a first step. We still have to ensure the match in Munich, believes his coach, Julian Nagelsmann. We have confidence in our abilities, we will have to confirm in the return match. »