PSG avoids an awkward Bayern Munich and awaits a semifinal win

A moment of brilliance from Désiré Doué and a lightning-fast strike from Ousmane Dembélé , when PSG were most desperate, allowed the French side to beat Bayern Munich in a thrilling duel, a replay of the 2020 Champions League final, and thus seal their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals. The reigning European champions struggled to get the game over, losing Pacho and Lucas Hernández to straight red cards in the closing stages. [Reportage and Stats (2-0)]

Luis Enrique 's team, perfect in their offside traps to thwart two goals from the Bavarian giants, struggled in the final minutes against a rival weakened by Jamal Musiala 's serious injury. In the first half's stoppage time, the German international collided with Gianluigi Donnarumma in a move that saw Bayern claim a penalty from the goalkeeper.

In the first 45 minutes, both sides engaged in an intense back-and-forth. Although Bayern seemed to be getting into the opponent's box more frequently, the most dangerous approaches repeatedly fell to PSG, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia creating some devilish tricks. Always excellently countered, however, by Manuel Neuer, who continues to display tremendous quality between the sticks.

Heartbreaking image

And if several of the goalkeeper's actions were brilliant, so were Donnarumma's in the other box, whose excessive force when going to ground ended up costing Musiala a very serious injury. The image of the young striker's left ankle, completely twisted after the crash, was heartbreaking. His absence would end up adding to that of Josip Stanisic , who had also long before been seen giving up his place to Sacha Boey .

After the break, despite Bradley Barcola forcing another great save from Neuer, it was Bayern again who managed to search harder for chances to break the deadlock. Their first attempts, however, easily fell flat on Donnarumma, seemingly recovered from the emotional blow of having caused another player's injury.

Michael Olise , harassed by Pacho, ended up sending the best of them over the bar. PSG's chance was even clearer, after a mistake outside the box by Neuer that a substitute Dembélé narrowly missed. Doué, however, after a great recovery by Joao Neves against Harry Kane , did not waste his opportunity. His shot at the near post, which took the goalkeeper by surprise, ended up converting the 1-0. And Dembélé, when his team were most desperate after the expulsions of Pacho and Lucas Hernandez, was in charge of delivering the 2-0.