Ten-man Bayern outclass PSG in Champions League thriller

November 5, 2025 Oliver Obel

From the opening whistle, Bayern imposed their tempo at the Parc des Princes. As reported by Reuters, Díaz opened the scoring after just four minutes, reacting first when PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier blocked Michael Olise’s driven effort.

The visitors’ pressing and movement continually exposed PSG’s defensive gaps. Aleksandar Pavlović curled narrowly wide, while Serge Gnabry rattled both posts within seconds — a warning of Bayern’s intent.

Midway through the half, Díaz doubled the advantage, capitalising on a hesitant touch from Marquinhos to slot past Chevalier with clinical calm. For much of the half, Vincent Kompany’s men controlled possession and space, suffocating PSG’s rhythm.

Josip Stanišić briefly made it 3–0, only for VAR to rule him offside by a fraction.

From control to chaos

Moments before halftime, Díaz turned from hero to liability. The Colombian forward launched into a reckless, two-footed challenge on Achraf Hakimi. After a VAR review, referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz produced a straight red card. Hakimi, visibly in pain, was helped off the pitch as Bayern faced the daunting prospect of protecting their lead a man short.

At the break, Kompany withdrew Gnabry for teenager Tom Bischof to reinforce midfield stability. The substitute was booked almost immediately but helped Bayern maintain their structure as PSG began to dominate possession.

PSG’s fightback

Luis Enrique’s side returned from the interval with renewed urgency, pushing Bayern deeper into their half. Yet Manuel Neuer remained largely untested until the final quarter-hour.

Substitutes Gonçalo Ramos and João Neves injected energy, and with 15 minutes remaining, Neves volleyed in Kang-in Lee’s superb cross to ignite hope among the home supporters.

The Parc des Princes came alive as PSG chased an equaliser; Neves headed another chance narrowly wide, and Kylian Mbappé saw a late shot flash over.

Bayern, anchored by the imperious Dayot Upamecano, resisted wave after wave of pressure, showing composure rarely matched by a side playing with ten men.

Heroes and heartbreak

While Díaz’s dismissal blemished his earlier brilliance, Upamecano emerged as Bayern’s standout performer — commanding in the air, decisive in the tackle, and a constant voice of organisation.

For PSG, Marquinhos endured a difficult evening, his errors proving costly in the opening stages. Further frustration came as Ousmane Dembélé limped off before the interval and Hakimi’s injury added to Enrique’s concerns.

According to BBC Sport, Díaz will now miss Bayern’s next Champions League clash against Arsenal through suspension — a setback for Kompany, whose team nonetheless reaffirmed their credentials as European contenders.

Analysis

This was Bayern’s most complete European display of the season — disciplined, resilient, and tactically astute. Kompany’s men combined early attacking fluency with pragmatic defending, showing maturity well beyond expectation.

For PSG, the loss exposed familiar flaws: defensive lapses and an overreliance on moments of individual creativity. Despite territorial dominance, their lack of incision left them chasing a game that had already slipped away.

As the final whistle sounded, Bayern’s celebrations were as much about belief as points — proof that even undermanned, their Champions League pedigree remains intact.

Sources: Reuters, BBC Sport, AFP, France 24, UEFA.com