Bayern Munich cruise past PSG to reach Champions League quarters

MUNICH: Bayern Munich defeated Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 2-0 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on Wednesday night to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals. 

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry netted for Bayern in the second half to beat the French champions 3-0 on aggregate after a 1-0 win in the first leg.

First-half stalemate

The 75,000 full house saw an intense first half between two evenly matched sides. Yann Sommer denied Kylian Mbappé and soon beat the Frenchman to a loose ball, dropping the ball after contact, but referee Daniele Orsato signalled a foul. Leon Goretzka tested keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before Mbappé hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

Lionel Messi saw a couple of shots blocked before Sommer finally collected. Jamal Musiala sidestepped a defender only to draw a fine save from Donnarumma before Bayern had to thank Matthijs de Ligt for keeping the scores level. Sommer lost the ball and Vitinha had the goal at his mercy, but the Dutchman cleared the ball before the line to keep the contest goalless on the night.

Dominant hosts

Munich were on the front foot after the interval and a Choupo-Moting header soon found the net, but the linesman's flag was up for Müller's offside position. Goretzka saw an effort deflected behind and headed over the bar but soon dispossessed Marco Verratti on the edge of his own box to square for the unmarked Choupo-Moting, who slotted home to break the deadlock and make it 2-0 on aggregate.

Sommer made an outstanding save against Sergio Ramos, tipping his header around the post. Leroy Sané dragged a shot wide, Sergio Ramos miscuing another header at the other end. Gnabry closed out the meeting when he latched onto João Cancelo's through ball on the break and beat Donnarumma. Alphonso Davies saw an effort saved and Sadio Mané's goal was chalked off for offside, Bayern winning 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.

The German record champions will learn the identity of their quarter-final opponents on 17 March. 

With inputs from fcbayern.com