TheCable

Bayern Munich defeated Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to win their sixth UEFA Champions League (UCL) title on Sunday night in Lisbon, thanks to a decisive goal from Kingsley Coman. 

Bayern Munich, unbeaten in 2019 and on a ten-match unbeaten streak in the competition, proved their technical mettle to smother PSG’s flair and brilliance in attack, despite letting the French side glaring goal-scoring opportunities.

The Parisians were denied on many occasions by Manuel Neuer, the 34-year-old veteran goal-keeper, whose experience won Bayern their first UCL since 2013.

It was a conservative contest and several players were on their game tonight, especially in both sides’ defence.

Here are our player ratings from the game:

Paris Saint-Germain

Keylor Navas (6/10): Three-time UCL winner saved brilliantly from Lewandowski’s header and did well to stop Gnabry’s cutback on the stroke of halftime. Generally effective but could do nothing about the winning goal.

Thiago Silva (8/10): The captain defended stoutly in the game like his life depended on it, clearing with every part of his body. He also got a yellow card for stopping Lewandowski. Solid defending.

Marquinhos (8/10): Harried and Cleaned up almost everywhere on the pitch, from the heart of defence and throughout the midfield. Had the energy to run up into attack for a glorious opportunity but was excellently denied by Neuer.

Juan Bernat (7/10): Defensively solid. Dealt with balls both in the air and on the ground but contributed little in attack. He, however, kept the hitherto dangerous Gnabry quiet and was surprisingly substituted for the ineffective Kurzawa.

Presnel Kimpembe (7/10): Mopped up beside Silva and was more of a positional presence. His low header to clear Coman’s cross under pressure from Lewandowski was world class from the 25-year-old.

Thilo Kehrer (4/10): Forced an error out of Davies and was lucky not to concede a penalty. He did switch off to allow Coman score for Bayern Munich. He was totally outclassed.

Angel Di Maria (5/10): Wayward finishing denied him a goal. Had Davies on the back foot most times but drifted off the radar in the second period when Bayern found their mojo in midfield.

Ander Herrera (6/10): Solid at defensive midfield. His long-range strike was deflected away by Goretzka. The former Manchester United player expertly set up both Mbappe and Di Maria for chances they should have scored. He was later substituted for a more attacking player.

Leandro Paredes (5/10): Workhorse in the central park for PSG. The Argentine paired with Herrera and closed down spaces to deny Bayern’s attacks in central positions.

Neymar Jr. (5/10): A rather quiet night from the Brazilian talisman forward. Shackled for most of the match and his usual magic was mostly smothered by the close-knit Bayern defence that pushed back its backline. He set up a chance for Mbappe but was frustrated and picked up a yellow card for his mental drift.

Kylian Mbappe (6/10): Tried to make it happen with his pace and looked the likeliest to score for PSG. He should have scored twice in the first period. His double early opportunities were saved by Neuer. The 21-year-old grafted on but found no luck with either his teammates or Bayern’s defence.

Marco Veratti (5/10): The substitute schemer grew in confidence after Thiago Alcantara was withdrawn by Bayern. The Italian set Mbappe on the road to a late attack that was wasted by Choupo-Moting.

Julian Draxler (4/10): Ineffective. Absent despite coming on in with twenty minutes still to play.

Luyvin Kurzawa (4/10): Did not do any better than Bernat in defence, ineffective in attack. Booked for his lack of endeavor.

Eric Choupo-Moting (4/10): Ineffective. Saviour against Atalanta in the quarter-final, the Cameroonian kicked the air when two yards away from goal. No heroics tonight. Poor.

The 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 night ever…

Kingsley Coman 👏👏👏#UCLMOTM #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/iluHvt811v

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 23, 2020

Bayern Munich

Manuel Neuer (9/10): Spread himself excellently for Two quick saves and the ultimate sweeper-keeper was on his A-game tonight with excellent reading and positioning to catch Mbappe’s tame shot when the striker should have scored. The outstretched leg also denied Marquinhos at point-blank range. Man of the Match. He becomes the third goalkeeper to captain a UCL winning side.

Jerome Boateng (5/10): Went off after pulling hamstring running back from a PSG counter on 25 minutes.

David Alaba (6/10): Led Bayern out from the back with his passing and speed. Brilliant positioning every time PSG’s pacey players ran at the backline. His uncharacteristic poor pass nearly gifted PSG a goal but was bailed out by Neuer. He recovered and led the backline through the Neymar, Mbape and Di Maria hurricane.

Joshua Kimmich (8/10): Played his heart out on a night he was double-teamed by Mbappe and Neymar. The German international still found time to attack but his free-kick deliveries were not so good on the night. He, however, delivered the decisive cross for the winning goal.

Thiago Alcantara (7/10): Uncharacteristic game for most of the period the Spaniard was on the pitch. Not allowed time on ball and his deliveries most times did not get to the player. He still found time to influence the match with the through ball that started the move for the winning goal. Regained control after Bayern took the lead.

Leon Goretzka (8/10): Bayern Munich’s unsung hero in midfield. The former Schalke 04 midfielder was wasteful in passing but improved as the game wore on. Covered every blade in midfield, put in tackles everywhere, cleaned up beside Thiago Alcantara and helped out effectively in defence. His energetic display covered his lack of pace that was not well exploited by PSG.

Kingsley Coman (9/10): The former PSG youngster and Paris native twisted and danced all night but was wasteful with his passes and deliveries. He finally made his mark with a header for what proved to be the winning goal. Substituted for Perisic.

Alphonso Davies (7/10): More offensive and created Bayern’s best chance, but was rattled defensively by the duo of Di Maria and Kehrer with the ball on the ground. The 19-year-old Canadian, however, improved and put in a composed defensive shift despite being on a yellow card for most of the game. Becomes the first Canadian to win the UCL.

Serge Gnabry (4/10): Uncharacteristically quiet. Probably fazed by the occasion and stupidly hacked down Neymar. The former Arsenal youngster could have seen red. Substituted on the 68th minute.

Thomas Muller (6/10): Quiet throughout the first half but the veteran 30-year-old improved in the second period. He harried away, put in tackles, wound up the PSG player and had the key touch to pass the ball for Kimmich’s match-winning cross. Colossal experience.

Robert Lewandowski (6/10): Trapped Davies’ cross excellently but was denied by the post midway into the first half. Had a low header well saved by Navas and although he did not score on the night, he put the PSG defence on their toes for most of the match and could have won a penalty had the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system been consulted.

Niklas Sule (8/10): Replaced the injured Boateng in the first half and slotted in solidly beside Alaba, closing up spaces and denying PSG’s attacks. Bayern Munich’s backline seemed to improve when he came on and his pace was key. He still managed to pick up a soft yellow card.

Ivan Perisic (5/10): Came on for Coman but did not have any effect on the Bayern Munich’s attack.

Philippe Coutinho (5/10): A wide free-kick was the only contribution of the substitute in this highly tactical match.

Corentin Tolisso (5/10): Late substitution to shore up the midfield. Slotted ineffectively.