PSG 0-1 Bayern Munich: 5 talking points as Mauricio Pochettino's men advance to the semi-finals despite home loss | UEFA Champions League 2020-21

PSG knocked Bayern Munich out of the UEFA Champions League despite a 1-0 home defeat in the second leg of their quarter-final fixture on Tuesday.

The Ligue 1 giants won the first-leg tie in Munich by a scoreline of 2-3, and their three away goals turned out to be decisive for them.

PSG were the better team despite losing Tuesday's game. Neymar hit the crossbar twice and was an inch away from putting away Angel Di Maria's cross from about 2 yards in the second half.

Bayern Munich desperately missed Robert Lewandowski, who was ruled out of both legs following an injury during the international break.

PSG will now play either Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, while Bayern Munich will have to reflect on what went wrong during both legs.

On that note, let's take a look at 5 talking points from the game.

#5- Bayern Munich's defense turned up big time

Bayern Munich have often relied on their robust offense for results. However, it was their defense that kept the scoreline respectable on Tuesday.

Some of the last-ditch defending from Lucas Hernández tonight was absolutely unbelievable

— Sam Tighe - Ranks FC Podcast (@stighefootball) April 13, 2021

Frenchman Lucas Hernandez put in an incredible display in Bayern Munich's back four. He rotated the ball well when presented with opportunities to do so.

Veteran center-half Jerome Boateng also put in a solid performance, despite coming up against quick attackers like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

#4- Neymar and Angel Di Maria ran the show for PSG

Neymar was virtually unplayable for PSG on Tuesday, skipping past the Bayern Munich midfield with ease and finding his teammates in dangerous positions.

He completed 6 out of the 9 dribbles attempted and was unlucky not to score, having hit the crossbar twice.

Neymar’s game by numbers vs. Bayern Munich:85 total touches 84% pass accuracy 12 attempted take-ons 6 successful take-ons 3 shots [3 on target]3 chances created 2 x woodwork hitUnlucky not to have a goal to show for his work. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/c66Ivqy6XK

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 13, 2021

His partner-in-crime Angel Di Maria was equally as good, finding his teammates in the final third with penetrative passes. The Argentine is known to turn up for big games, and that is exactly what he did as Bayern Munich could not keep up with his quick feet, especially on the break.

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#3- International break cost Bayern Munich the quarter-finals

FC Bayern Munich v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Leg One

Bayern Munich stars Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sane all featured heavily for the German national side during the European Qualifiers, which ultimately took a toll on them.

Kimmich and Sane turned in lackluster performances in Tuesday's game, while Goretzka left the pitch in the first leg due to a rib contusion.

Another casualty was Robert Lewandowski, who sustained an injury while playing for the Polish national team. David Alaba and Kingsley Coman were also heavily affected by fatigue, as the duo simply didn't have the mental resilience to make a difference against PSG.

#2- PSG won the all-important midfield battle

Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg

The PSG midfield pairing of Leandro Paredes and Idrissa Gana Gueye turned in a stellar performance, executing their individual roles to perfection.

Paredes acted as a deep-lying playmaker for PSG. His reading of the game and accurate tackling played an important role in both legs.

Meanwhile, Idrissa Gana Gueye chased every Bayern Munich player relentlessly until the final whistle. He completed a game-high 6 tackles and an impressive 3 clearances, not allowing the opposition to build-up play through the center.

#1- Bayern Munich need to find a suitable back-up for Robert Lewandowski

FC Bayern Muenchen v VfB Stuttgart - Bundesliga

Bayern Munich view themselves as European royalty, having won the coveted Champions League six times. However, every team with an ambition to win the coveted prize needs to have suitable back-up players for certain important positions.

Eric Maxim-Choupo Mouting did a decent job in the absence of Robert Lewandowski, scoring a goal each in both ties. However, Lewandowski's positioning and lethal presence in the box was thoroughly missed in this fixture.

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