After taking an early lead, PSG understandably adopted a more tactical approach, dropping deeper and looking to hit Bayern on the break. Yet their counter-attacks either fizzled out or were cut off by the outstanding Neuer. Meanwhile, Bayern laid siege to the visitors’ penalty area, enjoying plenty of possession and growing ever more furious—and desperate—after a series of controversial refereeing decisions.
Time and again, Luis Diaz, Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala drove forward, but their crosses and shots lacked precision. PSG conceded attempts, yet few came from genuinely dangerous positions. Bayern’s 18 efforts added up to an xG value of only 1.4, underlining the lack of clear-cut openings. Striker Harry Kane grew increasingly frustrated as he held the ball up and challenged defenders, yet he failed to look dangerous until his late strike.
“We didn’t have many really clear-cut chances where we could say: ‘That’s a 100 per cent chance’,” Neuer analysed. The best opportunities fell to Olise (27′) and Jonathan Tah (45’+3). PSG manager Vincent Kompany praised his side’s “incredible defending against crosses and the space behind the defence”, while sporting director Max Eberl admitted, “We hardly ever had time to get into space. When we did, we were straight back at their penalty area, but even there they defended perfectly.”
In the end, Luis Enrique delivered a verdict that mirrored Bayern’s self-assessment: “Today, our defence was better than our attack.” That disciplined rearguard performance means PSG will enter the final against Arsenal as even stronger favourites than if they had relied on another offensive showcase.