Paris Saint-Germain Prevails Over Bayern Munich in a Thrilling Match Despite Being Short-Handed
Paris Saint-Germain secured a dramatic 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in an exciting friendly match held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as part of both teams' preparations for the 2025-2026 season. Despite receiving two red cards in the second half, the French side emerged victorious thanks to a resilient and well-organized defensive display.
A Fast Start and Balanced Performance
The match kicked off with high intensity from both sides. PSG had the first chance through Désiré Doué early on, while Bayern responded with multiple attacking attempts led by Laimer and Coman. Goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer were both in fine form, denying several dangerous chances — most notably a powerful strike from Kvaratskhelia and another from Olise.
Injuries and a Disallowed Goal
The first half was marred by two significant injuries — one to Bayern defender Josip Stanišić, and a more serious one to Jamal Musiala after a collision with Donnarumma. The referee also disallowed a Bayern goal after Upamecano’s header was ruled offside. The first half ended goalless despite both teams showing attacking intent.
Tactical Changes and the Opening Goal
In the second half, PSG manager Luis Enrique made several offensive substitutions, including bringing on Ousmane Dembélé for Barcola. The breakthrough came in the 78th minute when PSG unlocked Bayern’s defense with a well-constructed team move, ending with a strong shot from Doué outside the box following an assist from Achraf Hakimi.
Two Red Cards and a Decisive Goal from Dembélé
Despite having the lead, PSG’s night turned difficult when Willian Pacho was sent off in the 82nd minute after a reckless tackle on Goretzka. Things got worse in the 90+2 minute when substitute Lucas Hernández was shown a red card for elbowing Guerreiro, leaving PSG down to nine men.
Nonetheless, Dembélé sealed the win in the 90+6 minute after a sequence of attacking plays. Hakimi provided the assist again, setting up Dembélé to finish from the center of the box with a clinical strike.
VAR Controversy in the Final Moments
Late in stoppage time, Bayern appealed for a penalty after Thomas Müller went down in the box. However, after a VAR review, the referee concluded there was no foul, much to the frustration of the German side who were pushing to capitalize on their numerical advantage.
A Dramatic Ending and Strong Preparation
After 11 minutes of added time, the referee blew the final whistle, confirming an emotional and hard-fought win for Paris Saint-Germain. The match showcased the team’s readiness for the upcoming season, with notable resilience and tactical discipline. As for Bayern, they failed to find the back of the net despite several promising efforts and will need to reassess their attacking strategy before competitive matches begin.