In a roller-coaster of a night at the Parc des Princes, Bayern Munich maintained their perfect start to the season by beating reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the 2025‑26 UEFA Champions League. The star of the show was Luis Díaz, who scored both of Bayern’s goals — but the jubilation was short-lived as he was sent off just before half-time for a dangerous tackle on Achraf Hakimi.
Early Domination & Two-Goal Burst
Bayern came out of the blocks flying. Within four minutes, Díaz pounced on a rebound after Michael Olise’s effort was parried and made it 1-0. Then, in the 32nd minute, Bayern doubled the lead when Díaz stole possession from Marquinhos and calmly slotted the ball home. For a moment, it seemed Bayern were going to run away with it.
The Turning Point: Red Card for Díaz
Just before half-time, the tide almost turned. Díaz went in hard on Hakimi, initially shown a yellow, but after a VAR review was upgraded to a straight red. The challenge was deemed to “endanger the health of a player”. With ten men, Bayern had to weather a second-half storm from PSG.
PSG Fight Back — But Victory Holds
PSG dominated possession after the break, looking for a way back into the game. They finally reduced the deficit in the 74th minute when Joāo Neves converted a scissor-kick from a Lee Kang-in cross. Despite the pressure, Bayern held firm. Their defence and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stood tall to preserve the 2-1 win.
Why It Matters
- For Bayern: The victory marks 16 wins in a row across all competitions. It reinforces their credentials as serious contenders in Europe.
- For PSG: This was their first defeat in this Champions League campaign. Added to this, they must deal with injuries to key players like Hakimi and Ousmane Dembélé, who was substituted early.
- For Díaz: A bittersweet night. He was the match-winner with two goals, but the red card marred his performance and leaves a suspension cloud hanging.
What to Watch Next
- How Bayern cope in upcoming matches while having one man less (due to Díaz’s suspension).
- PSG’s response: Will they bounce back and address their weaknesses in defence and discipline?
- The broader Champions League picture: Bayern now sit top, but the margin for error remains slim with top-class opponents lurking.
