Bayern Munich 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Eric Choupo-Moting, Serge Gnabry score as Bayern reach quarter-finals

Eric Choupo-Moting scored against his former club as Bayern Munich booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League following a 2-0 second-leg victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Arena.

The 33-year-old Cameroon international, who spent two years in the French capital, tapped in just past the hour as the Bavarians maintained their 100 per cent record in this season’s competition with an eighth straight win.

Substitute Serge Gnabry netted a late second for Bayern to secure a 3-0 success on aggregate in the last-16 tie.

PSG’s big stars were too peripheral overall, but the visitors did have the best openings of a tight first half with Lionel Messi thwarted by some brilliant last-ditch defending, before Vitinha’s low shot towards an empty net was cleared off the line after a real howler from Jann Sommer.

Bayern were less conservative following the restart and had a goal chalked off on 52 minutes for a controversial offside call. Thomas Muller was adjudged to have attempted to touch in from an offside position after Choupo-Moting had got the merest of flicks to the impressive Jamal Musiala’s cross.

Choupo-Moting was not to be denied, however, and he tucked home a simple finish on 61 minutes after Marco Verratti was caught in possession on the edge of his own area.

Sergio Ramos headed just wide as PSG pushed late on, but it was to no avail as Bayern stood firm and Gnabry added another goal at the death.

Next up, Bayern host FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday while PSG visit Brest in Ligue 1.

Talking point

Bayern march on but PSG come up short once again. The Ligue 1 giants’ quest for the holy grail that is the Champions League trophy will have to wait for yet another season. Indeed, once again Paris failed to produce on the big stage in Europe’s premier competition with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi – stars signed to deliver this specific piece of silverware – failing to ignite or inspire a recovery.

It will inevitably lead for calls for the head of Christophe Galtier and the criticism will be deserving given the side’s patchy record in 2023 and the first-leg tactics that ultimately left them with too much to do in Munich.

As for Bayern, they once again demonstrated why they are among the favourites to land a seventh Champions League crown with a seventh clean sheet in eight matches this term and a 16th win from their last 18 home games in the competition.

A glance at the Bayern bench just shows how strong the Bundesliga champions are and if they avoid injuries it will take a special side to knock them out of their stride.

Player of the match

Jamal Musiala (Bayern). The 20-year-old Germany international once again demonstrated why he is seen by many as one of the stars of the season (and the future). He made most passes in the final third and attempted and completed the most take-ons on the night. At times he was running the show and his silky gait on the ball makes him a joy to behold.

Player Ratings

BAYERN: Sommer 7, Stanisic 8, Davies 8, Upamecano 7, De Ligt 8, Goretzka 8, Kimmich 8, Musiala 9, Muller 7, Coman 7, Choupo-Moting 7. Subs: Sane 6, Mane n/a, Gnabry n/a, Cancelo n/a.

PSG: Donnarumma 7, Hakimi 6, Mendes 6, Ramos 6, Marquinhos 5, Danilo 6, Vitinha 6, Verratti 5, Fabian 6, Messi 5, Mbappe 5. Subs: Mukiele n/a, Bitshiabu 6, Zaire Emery 6, Ekitike n/a, Bernat n/a.

Match Highlights

26’ – PSG CHANCE! The hosts somehow survive. Fabian escapes on the left of the area and rolls it across for Messi. The Argentine’s first shot is blocked by Davies before a combination of Sommer and de Ligt deny the forward on the follow-up.

32’ – BAYERN CHANCE! Musiala spins Danilo brilliantly before unleashing a rasping, low shot from the left side of the box that Donnarumma parries to safety.

38’ – PSG CHANCE! Sommer gets caught trying to dribble on the edge of his own area and gifts the ball to Vitinha. The PSG man rolls it towards an empty net but de Ligt races back to make a fantastic, sliding clearance.

52’ – BAYERN GOAL RULED OUT! Choupo-Moting appears to flick Musiela’s sumptuous into the net via the slightest of touches off his head. Muller was also ghosting in to touch it home and it appears the decision is he was active as offside is given and the goal is chalked off.

61’ – GOAL! – Bayern 1-0 PSG – (Bayern lead 2-0 on aggregate) Verratti loses the ball on the edge of his own area. Muller and Goretzka then combine to tee up Eric Choupo-Moting to tuck home from close range.

65’ – PSG CHANCE! Sommer sticks out a big left hand to palm away Ramos’ bullet header from a right-wing corner.

82’ – PSG CHANCE! Ramos leaps highest to meet a right-wing corner again but he can’t guide his header on target.

89’ – GOAL! – Bayern 2-0 PSG – (Bayern lead 3-0 on aggregate) That’s the clincher. Gnabry races clear on the break and lifts a lovely finish into the far corner.

Key Stats

Messi became the third player to reach 150 games started in the UEFA Champions League after Iker Casillas (176) and Cristiano Ronaldo (178).

Bayern Munich have qualified for the CL quarter-final for the 21st time – no other club has reached the final eight as often.

Paris have been knocked out of the Round of 16 in five of the last seven editions of the UEFA Champions League, at least two more times than any other side over that period.