PSG’s curse in the last 16 of the Champions League, Lionel Messi and Cs foundered

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Lionel Messi when Paris Saint Germain failed to qualify for the 2022/2023 Champions League quarter-finals. Photo: REUTERS/ KAI PFAFFENBACH

MUNICH – Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) seemed cursed in the last 16 of the Champions League. Of the last seven editions, the Les Parisiens squad failed to qualify five times, including this season where Lionel Messi et al could only bite their fingers.

PSG failed to qualify from the last 16 of the Champions League after losing in the second leg against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Munich, Thursday (9/3/2023). In that match Lionel Messi et al lost with a score of 0-2.

According to Opta’s records, it’s like becoming a bad habit for PSG to be eliminated in the round of 16. This fact is at least twice as bad as the other contestant teams in the Champions League.

“Paris has been knocked out 5 times in the round of 16 in the last 7 editions of the Champions League, at least twice as many as any other team during that period,” wrote the Twitter account @OptaJean, Thursday (9/3/2023).

5 – Paris have been eliminated 5 times in the round of 16 in the last 7 editions of the Champions League, at least twice more than any other team over the period. Ceiling. #BAYPSG pic.twitter.com/YeH6cAMEKH

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 8, 2023
In that match, Bayern Munich’s winning goals were scored by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (61′) and Serge Gnabry (89′). After the match, PSG coach, Christophe Galtier, argued that his squad was not complete and was eventually eliminated in the round of 16.

“Player availability. We have a lot of important players missing there and at the back (including Neymar). Two centre-backs had to be replaced (Marquinhos then Nordi Mukiele who replaced him in the 33rd minute) before half-time. Obviously it cost us a lot,” said Galtier quoted from Culture PSG, Thursday (9/3/2023).

(sto)