Bayern Munich won the Champions League 2019-2020 as they overcame Paris Saint Germain with a Kingsley Coman lone goal in the Lisbon Final on Sunday night. In the end, it was the strongest team to prevail – Bayern’s steadiness and solidity ultimately taming PSG’s champagne football and their individual skills.
Hans-Dieter Flick’s side’s domination of the competition was total as the German squad won every single game of their European season – from the Group Stage to the Final. If one wants to find a flaw in their perfect record, that would be Robert Lewandowski failing to score tonight, interrupting a 15-game scoring streak, and failing to break Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goals scored in a Champions League edition.
Paris Saint-Germain saw their hopes for European glory vanish once again, tough never had they been so close to clinching the Champions League throne. They did what they were expected to do, trying to recover the ball as close as possible to their attacking third and then ignite a front line that could boast the names of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Angel Di Maria.
Their dreams, however, crashed against a monumental Manuel Neuer and underdog hero Kingsley Coman.
Right, Coman. Coach Hans-Dieter Flick came with the surprise of the night as he lined up the former Juventus winger in place of the more-established Ivan Perisic, and he would not regret it. PSG’s Thomas Tuchel managed to recover Keylor Navas between the sticks from the start but not Marco Verratti in midfield. The Italian was at least able to start from the bench.
Bayern’s start was aggressive as expected and the German side pressed hard since the very first minute. Paris Saint-Germain tried to counter them with their individualities. Kylian Mbappé was the most active and forced the Bayern defenders to use hard means to stop him.
The first chance of the game was a Clash of Titans as Mbappé served Neymar with a sublime filtering pass. Manuel Neuer, however, answered with a superb double-save to deny the Brazilian from almost point-blank range. Robert Lewandowski’s immediate reply was deadly: The Pole turned inward into the opposition box and powered a quick snapshot that hit Keylor Navas’s right post.
With the game now on fire, it was Paris’ turn to give the opposition a scare as a triple exchange among Neymar, Ander Herrera, and Angel Di Maria set the Argentine free to shot in front of Neuer, but his right-foot conclusion crashed above the bar.
In the 30th minute, Lewandowski went for a diving header from a cross, prompting Keylor Navas to push the ball back using his instinct. The match intensity was dazzling and neither team seemed to have any intention to slow down.
Bayern’s pressure offered some chances to shine even to the likes of Thiago Silva – who didn’t miss a single clearance in the whole first half. Among the Bavarians’ line, on the other hand, 19-year-old sensation Alphonso Davies appeared less focused than usual.
Bayern risked much just one minute before the break as David Alaba lost the ball in the danger zone, prompting Kylian Mbappé’s shot from a favorable position. The Frenchman, however, returned the courtesy and came up with a weak, central shot that was easy prey for Neuer. At half time, the scorecard still read 0-0.
Bayern’s winner came just before the one-hour mark and was the consequence of one of the first defensive mistake on the French part. From Joshua Kimmich’s cross from the right, Kingsley Coman had all the time in the world to take the aim and slam the ball past Keylor Navas, taking advantage of Thilo Keher’s poor marking.
The goal sent PSG in confusion and the French side risked conceding another one immediately after – but, this time, Presnel Kimpembe’s defensive job was much better than Keher’s as the 25-year-old managed to clear a dangerous cross from the left side, anticipating goal-scorer Coman.
In the 69th minute, a wonderful Angel Di Maria back-heel pass gave Marquinhos a chance to challenge Neuer from point-blank range, but there is a reason why the German stopper is still considered the best in the world.
That was the closest that Paris Saint-Germain came to an equalizer as Thomas Tuchel’s substitutions did not add as much offensive power as he was expecting. The German coach gave Marco Verratti some playing time in the 63rd minute, then replaced Angel Di Maria with Eric Maxim Chopo-Mouting (perhaps hoping to replicate his winning move against Atalanta…), and ultimately added more traction with Layvin Kurzawa in place of Bernat. Worth noting that there was no room for former Inter captain’s Mauro Icardi…
Hans-Dieter Flick eventually replaced match-winner Coman with his natural substitute Ivan Perisic and sent in Philippe Coutinho in place of Serge Gnabry – Bayern’s number 22 didn’t exactly shine tonight but there was no need for his exploits as Coman’s lone goal proved to be enough for the Bavarians to wrap their sixth Champions League.
MATCH REPORT
August 23, 2020 – Champions League 2019-20 Final
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN-BAYERN MUNICH 0-1
SCORERS: 59′ Coman
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PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (4-3-3): Navas: Keher, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat (79′ Kurzawa); Herrera, Marquinhos, Paredes (63′ Verratti); Di Maria (79′ Chopo-Mouting), Neymar, Mbappé (Rico, Bulka, Icardi, Sarabia, Diallo, Draxler, Bakker, Gueye, Dagba) Coach: Tuchel |
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BAYERN MUNICH (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng (24′ Sule), Alaba, Davies; Thiago Alcantara (85′ Tolisso), Goretzka; Gnabry (68′ Coutinho), Muller, Coman (67′ Perisic); Lewandowski (Ulreich, Hoffmann, Odriozola, Pavard, Javi Martinez, Cuisance, Lucas, Zirkzee) Coach: Flick |
REFEREE: Orsato (Italy)
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Paredes, Neymar, Thiago Silva, Kurzawa (P), Davies, Gnabry, Sule, Muller (B); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 5′