Article 105 — Bayern Completes A Second Treble
This was the final game in a long, extended 2019–20 European season. The Corona Virus pandemic has royally messed up the schedule across all leagues in Europe. Some chose to completely abandon the league while others resumed when it was safe to do so, playing games without much rest in between. The final game of this season as it normally is would be the Champions League final.
I had looked forward to the new format of the Europa League and Champions League when it was announced. Teams would play in a single leg in a neutral country in a knockout format just like what we are used to seeing in the World Cup, European Championships and other international and continental competitions like that.
By and large, I was not disappointed as there have been some thrilling games and shock results. The only disappointment I got was my team being eliminated in the Europa League semi-final (Manchester United) and losing the final (Inter). The final of the Champions League featured finals debutant, Paris Saint-Germain of France and a team that has already won the tournament 5 times prior, Bayern Munich.
The last time a Champions League final debutant won the final was in the 1996–97 season when Borussia Dortmund sprung a surprise to beat favourites, Juventus 3–1. Paris Saint-Germain as I shared in my preview post was one of the teams that you either loved or hated. Many dislike them as they are seen as one of the teams spoiling football and buying their way to success. They have also got players like Neymar, Angel di Maria and Mauro Icardi that you can either love or hate.
Neymar is one of the biggest names in world football but gets under the skin of football lovers for his diving antics on the field and for acting as a spoilsport. Di Maria is hated by Manchester United fans for some less than savoury comments of his time at United after leaving the club. His performances at United lacked the impact we had thought it would make too. Icardi is hated by Inter fans for the antics of his wife and himself in trying to be the supreme leader of the club and for putting self before the club. There is another player, Ander Herrera that United fans have no problems with but I don’t think fans of Liverpool, Manchester City and clubs like that like him very much.
PSG have been the undisputed kings of France since the injection of Arab state money from Qatar. It is a relatively young club as well compared to the traditional big teams of Europe, only 50 years old. In their history, they have only won a European trophy once, the European Cup Winners Cup in 1995–96. The last time they qualified for a European final was in 1997–98 in the same competition. Achieving glory in the Champions League is the logical next step in their progression after years of domestic dominance.
Like PSG, Bayern has been the dominant force in German football for the past 8 seasons but have found Champions League glory to be elusive. As far as similarities go, this is as far as it goes between both clubs. Bayern has a long history and is the most successful German club ever. It is what many would call a proper football club with legends presiding over the club and involved in the running of it. Its wealth and brand valuation has increased organically over many years from the year of its formation in 1900.
There is a perception that PSG was a team that relied on the individual quality of their stars while Bayern was a team with all its parts pulling together in the same direction. PSG has put down their progress to the final on a renewed team spirit formed after the first leg defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16. They have been seen celebrating with much vigour after victory in each round. PSG have beaten two other German teams en route to the final, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig so were hoping to make it third time lucky in the final. PSG had already completed a domestic Treble going into this final. Victory here would have sealed a Quadruple for them.
Bayern had a shaky start to the season under their former player and Croatian national team manager, Robert Kovac. I was pleased that they were stumbling in the hope that someone else can take advantage and break the monotony of the Bundesliga. I had not known who Hans Dieter Flick was when he was appointed as manager. At that time, I thought he was only appointed on an interim basis but he has done a great job to bring Bayern from 4th to the summit of German football again. He has guided them to a Double of Bundesliga and DFB Pokal and stood on the brink of their second Treble after winning it in 2012–13.
I felt this game would be won in defence. Neither team was known for their defensive prowess but I felt PSG had the upper hand in this department. The first half was an open contest as both teams went looking for goals. I felt in the first half, PSG had better chances to score. Neymar had an attempt well-saved by Bayern’s captain, Manuel Neuer who was sharp enough to block the rebound from finding it’s way to Angel Di Maria. Di Maria found himself in a good position too after being put through by Ander Herrera but he couldn’t hit the target and blazed his shot over.
Kylian Mbappe and Herrera had shots blocked by PSG defenders too. Mbappe had found himself in a great position to score but he could only shoot straight at Neuer. What a disappointing finish from a highly-rated, big-name player! At the other end, Robert Lewandowski got the closest to opening the scoring, he didn’t make very good contact with the ball but it still bounced off the post. He had another header from a good position saved by Keylor Navas in the PSG goal.
The game changed in Bayern’s favour in the second half. They got sharper in their play and stopped PSG from building any momentum in their play. They were on the front foot and took the deserved lead through Kingsley Coman. Coman was selected ahead of Ivan Perisic and he vindicated Flick’s decision to select him. Coman is from Paris, came through the PSG youth system and was released on a free transfer, returning to haunt his former club. The second half also got feisty and tensed between both teams amidst a flurry of yellow cards.
Neuer’s show of brilliance was not over though. He was called into action to make a good save off Marquinhos and Bayern was lucky Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting couldn’t get a touch on the ball in a promising position. There was no repeat of 1999 for Bayern as they managed the game very well in the closing stages. Choupo-Moting couldn’t repeat his supersub act that he displayed against Atalanta.
Bayern Munich, the deserved winners of the 2019–20 Champions League, kings of Germany and Europe. They became the second team after Barcelona to repeat their Treble and have won all their games in this season’s Champions League. While there are teams that struggle and might be unlucky in their quest for a Treble, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have made it looked so easy by repeating their Treble feat.
Thomas Tuchel has done what other PSG managers in the past have failed to do and that is bringing them to the final. He deserves commendation for doing that but they have fallen short at the final hurdle. For the sake of stability, he should keep his job as PSG attempt again next season to finally win the Champions League. PSG wouldn’t have much time to brood over this defeat as they are back in action on Saturday in the first match of the 2020–21 Ligue 1 season against Lens.
German coaches are the toast of the town in Europe with the performances of Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Hans Dieter Flick and Julian Nagelsmann this season. Klopp, Tuchel and Nagelsmann have been doing well for a number of seasons now and the German brand of coaching is in vogue now. A final thought for Bayern Munich’s star striker, Robert Lewandowski. He has scored 55 goals this season and assisted 10 goals. A good shout for the Ballon D’Or if it wasn’t cancelled this year due to the Corona Virus pandemic.
