PSG has definitely found its pet peeve. By winning (2-1), this Tuesday evening, during the 4th day of the league phase of the Champions League, Bayern Munich has, in fact, become the only team to have won three consecutive away matches against the Parisian club in the most prestigious of European competitions (the last two by a score of 1-0 in April 2021 and February 2023). A prestigious victory allowing Vincent Kompany’s men to regain the lead in the standings, tied with Arsenal, who fell to Slavia Prague earlier in the evening. More than this success, the current leader of the Bundesliga above all demonstrated relentless superiority during the first act.
A first half that the visitors played eleven against eleven and during which the Parisians simply sank. Technically correct, tactically superior and using its experience of major events – like an often exasperating Manuel Neuer – the German club wandered around, while taking advantage of the fragility and lack of juice of the Parisians. Main actor in this demonstration of force? Luis Diaz. At the conclusion of a rapid attack by his team after Paris lost the ball in midfield, the Colombian took advantage of Olise’s shot repelled by Chevalier to launch the Bavarian ogre from the start of this clash (0-1, 4th). In all the good moves, the former Liverpool player put the Parisian defense through an ordeal and finally doubled the lead with a new individual error…
A double and a killer tackle…
Not attacked, Marquinhos procrastinated and was dispossessed by the 28-year-old striker. Full of composure, the latter did not ask for so much to offer himself a double with a clear shot from the right (0-2, 32nd). A composure that the Colombian international would however lose just before the break. Defeated in the duel on an aggressive ball from Achraf Hakimi, the native of Barrancas threw himself with both feet off the ground and cut up his Moroccan counterpart. In tears, the Parisian number 2 – who should miss 3 to 5 weeks of competition according to initial information – was forced to give up his place. After consulting the VAR, the evening official had no other choice than to send a direct red card to the 1m80 right-hander. Whatever. The damage was already done and despite Parisian domination after the locker room and Joao Neves’ goal, Luis Diaz will remain one of the main players in this new Bavarian success in Paris (2-1).
Credited with a 7 by the FM editorial team and elected man of the match, the Colombian with 68 caps (20 goals) will have, in fact, hurt PSG, at all levels. Asked about his protégé’s gesture after the match, Vincent Kompany refused, for his part, to incriminate his player, despite everything wishing Hakimi a speedy recovery. “He didn’t do it on purpose. There is the intensity of the match too. There is a damaging action. At the moment, it happens in front of me, I defend the interests of my team first. But when I knew he (Hakimi) was injured, I hope it won’t be as bad as us with Musiala against PSG and that he will come back as soon as possible. It’s a high-level sport, it goes at incredible speed, it’s not always easy to avoid these moments”. One thing is certain, while waiting to know more about the duration of unavailability of Achraf Hakimi – but also of Ousmane Dembélé – PSG will not keep any good memories of Luis Diaz’s visit to the French capital…
