Bayern Munich exit Champions League in semifinal to PSG

Holders Paris Saint-Germain are one game away from retaining the Champions League after knocking out German champions Bayern Munich. Bayern can still complete the domestic double but again miss out on the big one.

The wait for a first Champions League title since 2020 goes on for Bayern Munich after holders Paris Saint-Germain knocked them out at the semifinal stage. A 1-1 draw in Munich on Wednesday completed a 6-5 aggregate win.

After a breathless 5-4 first leg defeat in Paris that has already been labeled one of competition’s greatest games, Bayern soon found themselves two down in the tie. Ousmane Dembele delivered the early blow, the former Borussia Dortmund forward lashing home in the third minute after some smart work from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Holders PSG showed in the French capital that they are not a side to always sit tight on a position of strength and both sides continued at a rapid pace. PSG’s leftback Nuno Mendes was lucky to escape a second yellow card for handball. Instead, the referee called a handball on Bayern's Konrad Laimer, a decision not borne out by video replays. This infuriated both the German fans in the Allianz Arena and Bayern's usually unflappable coach, Vincent Kompany.

"I watched the footage three times. And I didn't see a single image where Konrad Laimer touched the ball with his hand," the Belgian coach told reporters in the post-game press conference.

"It certainly would have been a very decisive moment if a player had been sent off for a second yellow card just 20 minutes into the game," Laimer noted.

Handball controversies frustrate Bayern

Moments later, those same fans and that same coach were enraged by another handball call, as the ball struck Vitinha in the arm in the box but the referee took no action and opted against calling on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was forced to remonstrate with his own fans to stop throwing missiles on the pitch. The warning was heeded.

Bayern's Jamal Musiala came close three times shortly before the break but the German champions went in at halftime with plenty still to do.

But as the second half minutes ebbed away, Bayern’s frustrations became clearer with every aborted attack. Though they worked themselves in to some promising positions, Bayern lacked the conviction they showed last week and throughout a record-breaking Bundesliga season, while PSG remained a threat on the break. Harry Kane got a goal back in the final moments but time was almost up, and so was another European campaign for Bayern.

"We weren't 'killers' in attack today. That key moment in the game was simply missing. We were there, but things weren't sharp enough inside the PSG box. Right now, disappointment is the overriding emotion for us," said Neuer to broadcaster DAZN post match.

PSG looking to retain Champions League, Bayern still have double chance

With the league wrapped up, Bayern can win a 13th domestic double with victory over Stuttgart in the German Cup final on May 23. But Kompany and Neuer know that even that is not enough for this particular club.

"We deservedly became German champions," said the goalkeeper: "We’re looking forward to the cup final in Berlin. Of course, we’re not thinking about that right now though, because the disappointment is naturally overwhelming."

Bayern coach Kompany sought to turn the page as quickly as possible despite he obviousl disappointment.

"Of course, in the end we lost two very, very tight games against a very good opponent, he said. "The Champions League is over for us this season, but there will be another chance - and that's a motivation for me."
PSG, on the other hand, will be looking to the weekend after that and a second Champions League final in a row. Should they win, they will be the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid won it three times in a row between 2016 and 2018.

The Qatari-owned French side will play English Premier League leaders Arsenal, who edged past Atletico Madrid in the other semifinal on Tuesday, in the final in Budapest on May 30.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery