The star of the big match was Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich). Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) also appeared as a supporting actor.
Germany’s strongest Bayern Munich won 1-0 with Kim Min-jae’s winning goal over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG, France) in the fifth round of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League (UCL) Leeds phase at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany on the morning of the 27th (Korea time).
Munich, which has won two consecutive games after two consecutive losses, has reached nine points to rise to 11th place and has also saved its hopes of going straight to the round of 16, which is given to the eighth place. On the other hand, PSG fell to four winless games (1 draw and 3 losses) after winning its first match against Girona (Spain), and is on the verge of being eliminated to 26th place, which is far from the ticket to the round of 16 playoffs, which can reach 24th place with four points.
The match also attracted attention as the Korean Derby. Kim Min-jae started and played full time, while Lee Kang-in, who was waiting in the bench, replaced Warren Zeire and Emery at 20 minutes in the second half. It was the first Korean derby in 13 years since Park Ji-sung of the Manchester United of England and Park Joo-ho of the FC Basel of Switzerland met in the 2010-11 season.
Munich was led by two central defenders, Kim Min-jae and Dayo Upamecano, and Joshua Kim Mi-hi, Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane stood in the spine line and blocked PSG offensive squads Usman Dembele, Bredley Barcola and Jaire-Emery.
Munich took the lead in the game, but PSG’s simple pass made it difficult. They played a confusing game with each other. If they didn’t score a goal, there was no victory and the shooting was a loss to each other.
The long-awaited goal came in the 38th minute of the first half. 이브벳 Metbay Saponov missed a corner kick from the left by Kim Mi-hee and coincidentally fell in front of Kim Min-jae. Kim Min-jae, who was free, tried to hit the header with his unique head and hit the net as it was. Upamecano approached and enjoyed the joy, and his teammates including Kane congratulated him.
There was a second-half variable. In 12 minutes, Dembele left due to accumulated warnings, resulting in a numerical advantage. Kim Min-jae also contributed to this scene. This is because Kim Min-jae blocked Dembele’s shot with his body and later walked Alphonso Davis’ foot and was sent off accumulatedly. Panicked, PSG tried to solve the game by sending in Lee Kang-in eight minutes later.
It is Kim Min-jae who focused on blocking the stem of the ball. Lee Kang-in connected to his teammate who penetrated with an accurate forward pass in the 38th minute, but it was Kim Min-jae who cut it. He showed his ability to perfectly block a low cross by sticking out his foot.
After the game ended, Kim Min-jae was the hero. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer gave Kim a big hug, signaling that he is the best player in the game. Without Kim, Munich would have been disappointed. All of Kane, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane, Michael Olise and Sergi Gnabry failed to attack PSG.