Paris Saint-Germain were unimpressive in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen, but such is the gulf in quality between the two sides, they still managed to add to their huge 4-0 lead from the first leg, winning 2-1 on the night.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Final score 2-1, Parisians poor but still win
Paris Saint-Germain were poor on the night, but still managed to pick up a 2-1 win at home to Bayer Leverkusen. They progress into the Champions League quarterfinals with a gigantic 6-1 aggregate victory.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
PSG were all but in the quarterfinals before the second leg even kicked off, though Bayer rekindled some very, very slender hopes of unlikely glory when they took the lead in the sixth minute. Giulio Donati floated a cross toward the far post, which Sidney Sam met to head inside Salvatore Sirigu's near post. Alas, said hopes were extinguished almost immediately.
It took just over five minutes before PSG leveled, with centre-back Marquinhos heading in Yohan Cabaye’s corner. It looked like the Parisians were beginning to click into gear; linking up with quick, intricate passing and carving right through Bayer’s midfield.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, and Bayer were soon allowed control of possession again -- though they patiently probed on the halfway line without ever penetrating the PSG defense. It wasn’t that the Germans were particularly good; just that PSG looked like they’d rather be resting up at home than defending an unassailable advantage.
They were given a wake-up call just short of the half-hour when Christophe Jallet fouled Eren Derdiyok in the box, though goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu prevented the game from getting even slightly interesting by saving Simon Rolfes' spot-kick. Edinson Cavani had a chance to put the hosts in front for the first time on the night 10 minutes later, but his effort was right at Bernd Leno. It was all rather lethargic.
Fortunately the second half started a little more interestingly. The spritely Lucas Digne motored down the left and pulled the ball back for Ezequiel Lavezzi, who buried the ball in the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Things went from bad to worse for Bayer with Emre Can’s dive earning him a second yellow card with just over 20 minutes to go, though they withstood any further embarrassment.
Paris Saint-Germain: Sirigu; Digne, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Jallet; Rabiot, Cabaye, Pastore; Lavezzi (Lucas Moura 62'), Ibrahimović (Ménez 72'), Cavani (Camara 85').
Goals: Marquinhos (13’), Lavezzi (53’).
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno; Guardado, Toprak, Wollscheid, Donati; Rolfes, Reinartz (Wagener 78’), Can; Castro (Brandt 67’), Derdiyok, Sam (Son 67’).
Goals: Sam (6’).
Red cards: Can (68’).
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