Bayern Munich neutralise PSG, Mbappe in Champions League

PARIS — Bayern Munich took control of their Champions League round-of-16 match with Paris Saint-Germain as Kingsley Coman's goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Bayern dominated much of the game and had chances to double their lead after Coman's 53rd minute winner. Up to that point, the likes of Leo Messi and Neymar were struggling to find their way into the match, and it was the introduction of Kylian Mbappe in the second half that shifted the balance of the game back into the hosts' favour.

Mbappe had two goals disallowed due to offside, while Messi had a shot turned over by a brilliant block from Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard block. But Pavard's late red card for a second bookable offence was the only blight on an otherwise near-perfect evening for Julian Nagelsmann's Bayern Munich. PSG and manager Christophe Galtier have it all to do if they are to overturn this deficit in Munich on March 8 for the return leg.

For about 75 minutes, Bayern enjoyed complete control of the match. The first half was a dire affair for both sides, restricted to one chance from Bayern's Joshua Kimmich, but the visitor's resolute set-up prevented PSG from getting into the game. For the first 45 minutes they pushed and pulled PSG, testing them out with jabs but then waited until the opening stages of the second-half to start landing a series of haymakers.

The winning punch came from one of PSG's former sons Coman — the same man who scored the winner when the two teams met in the Champions League final back in 2020. It was a neatly-worked goal as half-time substitute Alphonso Davies' cross found an unmarked Coman, who side-footed it home underneath goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Coman didn't celebrate, the crowd