Ney magic!
Superb Brazilian’s breathtaking flamboyance has PSG dreaming of European glory
Tencounter was in its infancy, but Neymar was already tattooing himself on it. Three minutes in, there was the ball to Kylian Mbappe, allowing the speedster to hit the acceleration and fire wide across the face of goal from an unkind angle.
The clock hadn’t ticked into double figures when the Brazil international’s shot on the swivel was smothered by Manuel Neuer.
Neymar was simply warming up. Loosening his toes, slowing teeing Bayern up for the torment that was to follow either side of the half-hour mark.
A classy Paris Saint-Germain counter-attack was decorated by a curled pass from Angel Di Maria down the left channel to Mbappe.
The Frenchman’s visionary square ball was directed to an unmarked Neymar on the opposite side of the area.
The playmaker was again thwarted by the Bayern Munich goalkeeper, who darted off his line to block the shot.
Surely, a deserved goal was around the corner, accompanied by joyous trickery and a flamboyance often overtaken by function at this crucial juncture of the Champions League?
Nope. Bayern were still breathing, courtesy of intervention from their desperately recruited defenders: the crossbar and post. Their actual markers were temporarily stupefied by Neymar’s dance.
Neymar’s personal collection of great pieces of play that didn’t result in a goal was to swell further.
His delightful pass to Mbappe was sent back his way, and a low shot evaded Neuer but was denied by the post.
That was five minutes of pure football heaven, just minus the end result which felt like it was owed to such masterful football.
As a snapshot of the crazy, fun, frenzied state of this tie, Bayern – who looked done – were suddenly in front.
It was untidy, yet riveting. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting towered over Presnel Kimpembe to head in after Keylor Navas had originally spurned Alphonso Davies.
Only 40 minutes of the second leg had been played at that point, yet there was enough entertainment to paint this entire competition even if the 1-0 scoreline didn’t suggest as much. Neymar didn’t get his final-third reward, but
he has a
Champions
League semifinal to continue his conjuring.
He pulled the strings in the opening clash and set the aggressive, brave tone in Paris – all while widening our eyes.
The real goal would be to lead PSG to the final with more luminary play and finally get them – and his destiny – over the
line.
Pochettino was delighted with the off-the-ball work of his team to keep Bayern at bay in the second half.
“They are fantastic players and the quality is there you can appreciate,” he said to BT Sport after the match.
“They work so hard and I’m so happy. Our job is to try and put this type of talent that are geniuses, to work like a team, to make effort without the ball.
“With the ball they are fantastic but to be a real team is the challenge for us and we’re so happy about that.”
Pochettino acknowledged that despite his lowkey demeanour on the touchline, being at this stage of the Champions
League is always a stressful and exciting encounter, with PSG hoping to go one better this year.
“During the
game we were really focused. It was a tough match, (I’m) really happy because the players deserve the credit. “After three months working here we’re showing (up) in this type of game; if you win and qualify for the semifinal it’s an amazing moment for us.
“I am calm outside but inside you are always with the stress of the competition. It’s the adrenaline we love to feel.” – The Independent