Bayern Munich’s quest for the FIFA Club World Cup title ended in a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta. While Bayern, the reigning Champions League holders, demonstrated attacking intent, PSG ultimately proved victorious in a match overshadowed by injuries and contentious dismissals.
The opening stages saw both teams probing for an advantage. PSG’s Kvaratskhelia created a promising chance for Doué in the third minute, but the attempt narrowly missed the target. Fabian then came close in the 22nd minute with a shot that sailed just over the bar. Bayern responded with a header from Kane in the 38th minute that lacked the necessary height.
The first half took a dramatic turn in stoppage time when Bayern’s Musiala collided with PSG goalkeeper Donnarumma, resulting in an unnatural twisting of his foot. The incident left a palpable shock on the pitch, contributing to a scoreless interval.
Following the restart, Barcola had a golden opportunity for PSG in the 49th minute, but was denied by Bayern’s goalkeeper Neuer. Subsequently, Bayern asserted control of possession, effectively stifling the Enrique-led team’s attacking efforts. Despite this dominance, clear scoring chances remained elusive for the German side.
A potential costly error threatened to shift the momentum in PSG’s favor as Neuer’s misplaced pass almost gifted Kvaratskhelia a scoring opportunity in the 74th minute, but the Georgian’s shot went wide. However, Doué capitalized on a strong assist from Joao Neves in the 78th minute, placing the ball precisely into the right corner.
The match took another significant turn in the 81st minute when PSG’s Pacho, formerly of Eintracht Frankfurt, received a straight red card for a late challenge on Goretzka. Just ten minutes later, Hernandez, a former Bayern player, was also sent off for an elbow to the head of Guerreiro, receiving his own red card.
Despite Bayern’s numerical advantage, the damage was already done. Dembelé, assisted by Hakimi, sealed the victory for PSG in the second minute of added time, finishing powerfully into the left corner. A short time later, the final whistle blew.
Bayern Munich is now eliminated from the Club World Cup and the team also carries concern regarding the extent of Musiala’s injury sustained during the first-half collision.