By David Awopetu
German side, Bayern Munich, clinched its sixth European title after beating French side, Paris Saint-Germain, 1-0 in the Champions League final in Lisbon on Sunday.
Victory for the German champion secures a lucrative treble after it also won the domestic double earlier this year.
Despite all the attacking talent on display, it was Kingsley Coman, who started his career at PSG, that settled a tense affair with a 59th-minute header at the far post from Joshua Kimmich’s cross to leave the French giants still searching for that elusive Champions League triumph.
It was a night of joy for Bayern coach, Hansi Flick, who added the Champions League to the Bundesliga after initially taking over as interim coach from sacked Niko Kovac in November.
In contrast, it was a night of bitter disappointment for PSG’s two attacking superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, who failed to produce their best and found themselves frustrated by Bayern keeper and man of the match, Manuel Neuer, when they had the best of the first-half chances.
Mbappe’s pain increased in the second half when he looked to be tripped by Kimmich in the area, but PSG’s penalty claims were ignored – leaving Bayern to celebrate being crowned champions of Europe once more, becoming the first team to win the trophy by winning every Champions League game in a single campaign.
This has been PSG’s best Champions League campaign but this will not ease the pain of this defeat for the players or coach Thomas Tuchel, who must now revamp his side as experienced captain and defensive pivot, Thiago Silva, leaves the club.
Neymar and Mbappe will remain the big hopes for a club of huge ambition but they will know a huge opportunity to break this final frontier was missed in Lisbon, especially as their big rivals will come back stronger next season.
Bayern’s status as European champions is deserved, having won every game in the tournament this season, not only having the ability to produce blistering performances of the sort that overwhelmed Barcelona 8-2 in the quarter-final and frustrated PSG’s threat in the final.
This is a developing team, with Leroy Sane already signed from Manchester City for next season, Bayern’s future looks bright under their influential coach, Flick.
