The Daily Star Ireland
Paris Saint-Germain secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Atlanta to advance to the Club World Cup semi-finals, where they will face Real Madrid. Despite finishing the match with nine players, the Ligue 1 champions managed to break Bayern’s winning streak in their recent encounters.
The match, held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, saw PSG take the lead through Desire Doue with just over ten minutes left in regular time. Ousmane Dembele, who came off the bench, sealed the result with a goal deep into stoppage time. Bayern, who had dominated their last four meetings with PSG, struggled to capitalize on their chances and ended the night with multiple setbacks.
Red Cards, Injuries, and Reversed Decisions Complicate Bayern’s Night
Bayern’s night turned sour with several significant blows. Midfielder Jamal Musiala left the field on a stretcher following a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Shortly afterward, Harry Kane had a potential equalizer ruled out for offside, and a penalty decision awarded to Bayern in the final moments was overturned after a VAR review.
As the match approached its conclusion, tensions escalated. Defender Willian Pacho received a red card for a reckless challenge on Leon Goretzka. Minutes later, Lucas Hernandez, brought on as a substitute, was also dismissed after elbowing Raphael Guerreiro. The double dismissal forced PSG to defend with nine men, but Dembele’s counterattacking goal in added time ensured their progress.
The French side’s discipline issues now mean both Pacho and Hernandez will miss the semi-final. Meanwhile, Bayern must assess the severity of Musiala’s injury, which could impact their own campaign moving forward.
Real Madrid Advance After Late Scare Against Dortmund
PSG’s next opponent, Real Madrid, advanced after a tense 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in another quarter-final clash. Los Blancos appeared to be in control after early goals from Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia gave them a two-goal cushion. However, defensive lapses allowed Dortmund to strike twice in added time, threatening to take the match into extra time.
Kylian Mbappe, returning to action after missing the group stage due to illness, scored a decisive acrobatic volley that gave Madrid the lead again. The final moments of the game were dramatic, with Dean Huijsen conceding a penalty and receiving a red card. Serhou Guirassy converted from the spot, but Real held on thanks to a key save by Thibaut Courtois, who denied Marcel Sabitzer with the last kick of the game.
Madrid’s victory came at a cost, as Huijsen’s suspension rules him out of the semi-final encounter. The matchup at MetLife Stadium in New York now looms, with both Real Madrid and PSG facing the challenge of replacing key defensive players in pursuit of a place in the Club World Cup final.
