Bayern fiasco
There was no doubt that Bayern would come out super motivated for the match against Lazio. In the last round of the Bundesliga, Thomas Tuchel's team missed three unanswered goals from Bayer and were clearly determined to take out their anger on the seventh Serie A team. And thereby extend their successful streak in the confrontation with the Romans. Three years ago, they already taught them a lesson and did not let them into the quarterfinals of the Champions League, winning two meetings with a total difference of 6:2.
True, then the Munich team was in much better condition. This time, eight players were not included in the squad due to injuries, including stars Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Alphono Davies, as well as one of the key players in the midfield, Conrad Laimer. In his absence, the pair in the supporting zone were Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, whose departure from the club has been talked about over the past months. And as it became known a few hours before the meeting, they themselves were allegedly not averse to trying themselves in a new place. As well as Matthijs de Ligt, who again remained in the reserve, also does not enjoy the confidence of the head coach.
As a result, it was Goretzka and Kimmich who were one of the most noticeable representatives of Bayern in the first half. Leon regularly joined the attack and at the same time managed to work on defense, repeatedly regaining possession, and Yozua actually acted as the main conductor of the attack. In terms of level of involvement, only Jamal Musiala could compare with him, who tried to break through to the opponent’s goal over and over again. And although at times he achieved his goal, he failed to create anything dangerous. Perhaps the most striking episode was the bizarre free-kick play that ended with Leroy Sane's inaccurate shot.
After the break, Bayern continued to try to crack Lazio's massive defense, but their attacks were choked over and over again, while the hosts' counterattacks happened less frequently, but looked much more interesting. Already in the opening of the half, the jet Gustav Isaksen burst into someone else's penalty area and miraculously failed to outwit Manuel Neuer, but a little later he still succeeded. No, the Dane did not score himself, but earned a penalty kick and provoked the removal of Dayot Upamecano, who roughly cut him down. The regular penalty taker of the Romans, Ciro Immobile, approached the spot and sent the ball into the net.
And Bayern was never able to respond properly. Neither the “fresh” Eric Choupo-Moting, Mathis Tell and de Ligt, nor Harry Kane, who tried to lead his partners, helped. Shortly before the end of normal time, the Englishman earned a dangerous free kick, but hit the wall. But the guests, who were in the minority, were unable to organize a full-fledged attack. As a result, 17 shots on goal with no hits on target and Lazio’s first defeat in history.
Bayern players in the Champions League match with Lazio
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PSG class
In turn, such a sensation was clearly not expected in the second match of the evening. After all, the teams approached it in completely different states. While Paris Saint-Germain dominated the national championship and made it to the quarterfinals of the French Cup, simultaneously extending its unbeaten streak to 16 meetings, Real Sociedad was openly suffering. In the last four matches, Imanol Alguacil's team not only never gained the upper hand, but did not even hit the opponent's goal. And if with Rayo Vallecano, Girona and Mallorca they were at least content with a draw, then Osasuna lost altogether. Therefore, their chances of winning their first European Cup playoff victory in the 21st century were assessed as extremely low.
It is noteworthy that this unlucky streak began around the moment the team's top scorer Mikel Oyarzabal went to the hospital. At the end of January, he was injured and did not have time to recover in time for the meeting with Paris Saint-Germain. And although Russian fans were expecting to see Arsen Zakharyan instead, the coach thought differently and trusted Ander Berrenechee. On the opposite, right edge is Takefusa Kubo, and Andre Silva is at the forefront.
It seemed that this time everything was against Sociedad, who, among other things, were also playing on a foreign field. But Alguacil's players were not going to give in to their more titled opponent. And in the first half they were practically equal to Paris Saint-Germain, and even surpassed them in the number of shots. The visitors tested Gianluigi Donnarumma's alertness five times in total, but were unable to force him into the game. But the Parisians were not much more accurate. Only Kylian Mbappe hit Alex Remiro's goal, but did not create any serious problems for him.
However, after the break, PSG’s class still showed. The French doubled the pressure and caught Remiro off guard twice in the 70th minute. The first goal was scored by the trio of Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Mbappe: one took a corner kick, the second headed the ball to the far post, and the third shot the goalkeeper from close range. And then Bradley Barcola, who until that moment did not look very impressive, demonstrated his individual skills. The former Lyon winger was already preparing to go on the bench when he broke through alone on the left flank, lured the goalkeeper out of target and fired a shot right into the corner.
By this time, Arsen Zakharyan had already appeared on the field instead of the tired Barrenechea, but did not help Sociedad impose a fight on Paris Saint-Germain. The Russian touched the ball 13 times, made nine accurate passes and clearly did not spoil the guests' game, but he was not able to push them to exploits. Like the Munich team, Alguacil’s team were unable to trouble the enemy goalkeeper (9/0) and extended their dry streak to five matches, losing with a score of 0:2.
Paris Saint-Germain players Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola
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