Paris (AFP)

What heroic revenge!

With a double from Kylian Mbappé under the snow in Munich, Paris SG took revenge on the invincible Bayern (3-2), their executioner of the 2020 final, while Chelsea gained the ascendancy over Porto (2-0 ) Wednesday in the Champions League quarterfinals.

- Paris like a grown-up in Munich -

Two years and nineteen matches that Bayern, reigning European champion, no longer lost on the European scene: it is a capital feat that PSG succeeded on Wednesday in apocalyptic conditions that will be remembered, with a surgical realism of its superstars Mbappé and Neymar and constant suffering.

Under the snow and behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena, the revenge of the Lisbon final gave birth to a burning match, rich in shrapnel and blows of fate.

With at the helm a maestro himself vengeful: Neymar.

The Brazilian, often injured in recent weeks or victim of his own nerves, this time survived with two assists that allowed PSG to quickly lead 2-0 despite the overwhelming domination of the Bavarians (31 shots to 6!).

From the 3rd minute, "Ney" fixed five defenders on a full-axis tumble and shifted Kylian Mbappé, whose powerful strike surprised goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, beaten between his legs.

Then, while Bayern was pushing, Neymar drove the point home of an incredible sleazy for his captain and compatriot Marquinhos, who left behind the defense and who adjusted Neuer like a pure center-forward (30th).

A goal with energy from the Brazilian defender, who had just called for the change due to an injury!

"Marqui" was also released in the wake, forcing midfielder Danilo to improvise central defender, and this change initiated a fairly improbable ball of injuries: in turn, the Germans Leon Goretzka (33rd), then Niklas Süle (42nd) came out affected, as did Abdou Diallo at the break.

In this disheveled context, the merit of PSG was to hold out in the Bavarian turmoil, in particular thanks to Keylor Navas.

The reigning European champions nevertheless reduced the score on a stung head from former Parisian Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (37th), substitute for Munich scorer Robert Lewandowski, absent (knee).

Then Thomas Müller equalized with a subtle uncrossed header (60th).

But Bayern left boulevards behind and Mbappé appeared again late in the game, putting the third goal with a low strike at the near post that surprised Neuer.

Or Bondy's 8th goal in this C1, two lengths from his budding rival Erling Haaland (10 goals).

Enough to erase the bitter taste of Lisbon and his too soft shot in front of Neuer last August, one of the worst failures of his career ... Here he is avenged by this brilliant victory, which Paris will have to confirm next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes to maintain his dream of a first European coronation.

- Chelsea take the ascendancy -

On the side of Porto-Chelsea, the atmosphere was much less inflamed: the match also took place behind closed doors but also on neutral ground in Seville because of health restrictions, and then because the "Blues" did the job in s 'imposing quite clearly "on the outside".

Thomas Tuchel's team has sometimes suffered but his defense, this time, held, far from the unexpected correction suffered last weekend in the Premier League against West Bromwich (5-2).

And two banderillas were enough in the Andalusian arena: a roulette from Mason Mount followed by a cross strike (32nd), then an opportunistic goal from Ben Chilwell who nipped a ball poorly controlled by a defender before going to beat the goalkeeper up close (85th).

Here is Chelsea very close to the semi-finals that the London club, European champion in 2012, hopes to find for the first time since 2014: it will suffice to manage the return leg scheduled for next Tuesday, again in Seville.

© 2021 AFP