Bayern Munich Reach Champions League Quarterfinals After 2-0 Victory Over Paris Saint-Germain

Bayern Munich advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry found the net in the second half of the match, giving them a 2-0 victory and ending Paris Saint-Germain's search for their maiden European Cup.

The French giants, who were defeated by Bayern in last year's Champions League final in Lisbon, Portugal, were eliminated from the tournament with an aggregate score of 3-0 after the first-leg tie in Paris ended 1-0 in favour of the German side. This defeat is likely to bring about drastic changes at Parc des Princes, with several high-profile players set to be out of contract at the end of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain's expensively assembled squad once again came up short this season in their aim to win the Champions League. After being eliminated in the round of 16 by Real Madrid last season, the French champions met their match this season in Bayern Munich, with the same outcome as in previous years.

Since Qatar's takeover at PSG, the hefty investment in the club has only yielded one final appearance in continental competition, failing to produce the desired result of winning the most prestigious prize in club football. Despite the addition of superstars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos, the club has been unable to capitalise and make good of the money spent.
Big changes are expected in Paris this summer as the team look to reassess and get back on course.

Messi and Ramos' contracts with PSG have come to an end and due to their respective performances against Bayern, neither seem likely to be offered a renewal. Additionally, Mbappe failed to live up to his reputation and contribute the expected level of performance. As Neymar is out of the picture with an ankle injury, this Bayern loss has been deemed a major setback for PSG.

Going forward, the question remains as to whether the club will maintain its lavish spending or begin anew. With PSG having been removed from the Champions League at an early stage once again, they now have the opportunity to ponder that decision.

No matter how much they invest, some clubs still cannot find the success in the competition that they are after - Manchester City are a prime example, still yet to win the tournament. However, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have something special, an ingredient that helps bring them victory consistently. Despite an initial strong showing from Paris Saint Germain, once Choupo-Moting put Bayern ahead on 60 minutes the game was in their control. The star-studded squad of PSG could not live up to the hype and were easily overcome by the German side. The current Bayern team may not be their best, but they still have an aura of success that nobody will want to face in the later stages of the competition, something that PSG are yet to master.

This may have been the game in which Messi saw his last opportunity of earning another Champions League title vanish into thin air. He will be 37 years old by the time of the 2024 final and there is no guarantee that he would still be in Europe then, in case the clubs in Saudi Arabia and MLS attempt to convince him to search for a fresh challenge when his commitment at the Parc des Princes expires this summer.


Messi has already collected four Champions League honors with Barcelona and he obtained the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar back in December, so he has nothing left to accomplish in soccer. Even so, he joined PSG in 2021 with the goal of aiding the French outfit to finally gain their first Champions League trophy, yet for the second successive season, he and PSG have been eliminated from the round of 16.

Messi has been unable to make an impression on Bayern in both legs of the Champions League showdown between the two sides. The Argentine has been 35 for a while now and, despite still performing at a high level in the World Cup, his performance in Qatar showed that the knockout rounds of the Champions League are a different beast altogether. The level of quality here is much higher than in the international tournament and Bayern have made Messi look ordinary. This could be a deciding factor in the superstar hanging up his boots this summer before it gets harder in the coming season.

Jamal Musiala was the standout performer on show at the Allianz Arena for Bayern Munich's last 16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain. His pace and dynamism caused PSG vast amounts of problems and, if not for his teammates' poor finishing, the 20-year-old could well have decided the match.

As the Bavarians march onwards to the quarter-finals, they are aware that they have one player in Musiala who can truly hurt any of the remaining sides in the competition. However, coach Julian Nagelsmann needs another individual to step up and share the load with the youngster in order for the club to reach the final in Istanbul.

Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane were the substitutes who came on for Musiala in the dying moments of the game, while Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman have the potential to be decisive in matches. Leon Goretzka's strength and energy in midfield help Thomas Muller perform well for the side, and Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt are both reliable defenders despite the expectations set for them during their breakthroughs.

However, it is Musiala who is the one giving Bayern Munich their spark, showing the kind of world-class quality they previously had in abundance. He is not alone in his efforts, as the other stars in the squad are also essential if they are to reach the coveted Champions League glory.