10-man Bayern remain perfect with victory at Paris Saint-Germain

FC Bayern beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 on Tuesday night to make it 16 wins from 16 in all competitions this season move top of the Champions League table. Luis Díaz handed Munich a two-goal lead but saw a red card before half-time. The German record champions were then solid in defence after the restart and claimed another deserved three points despite João Neves’ goal with a quarter-hour to go.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Josip Stanišić in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović anchored a midfield featuring Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Díaz, with Harry Kane up front. Tom Bischof replaced Gnabry at half-time, with Minjae Kim and Leon Goretzka coming on for Olise and Kane in the second half.

Díaz shines before red card

Bayern were dominant in a lively first half and took an early lead when they won the ball in midfield, with Gnabry flicking on for Olise, who saw his shot parried, but Díaz was on hand to mop up the rebound. Pavlović saw an effort deflected behind before Ousmane Dembelé chested in a cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside on review.

Gnabry fired wide and Neuer denied Bradley Barcola at the other end. Gnabry hit the inside of the post moments later, but Munich soon doubled the advantage, Díaz stealing the ball off Marquinhos and firing home. Bayern could have made it three when Stanišić tried to set up Gnabry instead of letting fly in the area. Stanišić did find the net before half-time, but the flag was up for offside. Kimmich’s shot went just wide before Díaz initially saw a yellow card for a challenge on Achraf Hakimi but received his marching orders after review.

10 men hold firm

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia headed over after the restart, with Bayern solid at the back. Olise miscued before Neuer denied Kvaratskhelia and saved from Vitinha. Tah made a fine block, but PSG did pull one back when Neves’ sideways scissor-kick found the net with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

Neuer made a fine save against Warren Zaïre-Emery and was called into action numerous times in the closing stages. Neves came closest to an equaliser when he headed inches wide before King-In Lee missed the target, but Bayern saw out the storm to go top of the table with a perfect 12 points from four matches.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen