Paris, April 14: After Neymar missed several chances to finish off defending champion Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain was left clinging to a 1-0 home defeat that nevertheless sealed the French club’s second straight Champions League semifinal.
Bayern had to score twice on Tuesday after losing 3-2 in Germany in the first leg of their quarterfinal and survived several scares from livewire Neymar in the first half before largely taking control in the second.
But without the prolific Robert Lewandowski, the six-time champions lacked a cutting edge and could not add to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s first-half goal against his former club.
After losing 1-0 to Bayern in last year’s final, PSG stands one step away from the second final of its 51-year history and remains on course to win it for the first time.
Neymar had three shots saved by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and hit the woodwork twice in an eventful first half that tilted Bayern’s way when Choupo-Moting headed home in the 40 minute for the lone goal of the match.
Bayern’s wingers were a constant menace and PSG’s defenders were relieved to see standout goalkeeper Keylor Navas stretch his right hand to keep out Leroy Sane’s dangerous cross deep into injury time at Parc des Princes.
That was Bayern’s last chance on a night when the usually so prolific German side paid the price for its wastefulness without Lewandowski.
PSG now faces either Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals.
Injury-hit Bayern was also missing midfielder Leon Goretzka, as well as winger Serge Gnabry because of coronavirus. In fact, Flick couldn’t even fill his substitute’s bench.
PSG was not at full strength, either. Defender Marquinhos had an adductor problem, while midfield schemer Marco Verratti stayed on the bench after recovering from COVID-19.
In the other quarterfinal return match at Seville, Porto’s Mehdi Taremi connected a spectacular scissor kick that sent the ball into the top corner from 12 metres out.
It was a beautiful goal — arguably the best in the Champions League this season — to settle an ugly match. But it wasn’t enough for Porto to go through.
Chelsea qualified for the semifinals for the first time since 2014 despite a 1-0 loss to the Portuguese champions on Tuesday, the English team going through 2-1 on aggregate to meet either Real Madrid or Liverpool for a place in the final.
Aside from Taremi’s stunning, acrobatic effort in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, Chelsea successfully stifled Porto in what proved to be something of an arm-wrestle and was happy to rely on the away goals scored by Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell in the first leg.
Aside from COVID restrictions, managers Tuchel and Sérgio Conceição exchanged words at the final whistle and the Porto coach showed his frustration by cutting short his post-match news conference after questions about the confrontation while Tuchel shrugged it off as he sets his eye on the CL semifinal against either Madrid or Liverpool. (AP)
