PSG vs Bayern Munich result: Five things we learned as Kingsley Coman clinches Champions League final

French winger made the crucial breakthrough in the second half in Lisbon

Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman celebrates scoring (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Bayern Munich edged out Paris St Germain to win the Champions League final 1-0 on Sunday night.

An end-to-end feast of attacking play had been anticipated in many quarters, but both sides showed a measure of respect to each other in the opening stages and the first half had just a few clear chances.

Robert Lewandowski went closest, spinning to strike the ball against the base of the post, while Neymar had PSG’s first clear effort – saved by Manuel Neuer – and Kylian Mbappe spurned a great opening with almost the last kick of the half.

The opening goal finally came just shy of the hour mark, with Kingsley Coman heading home at the far post after a deep cross, and despite plenty of pressure and intent the Ligue 1 side couldn’t find a way back into the game.

Here are five things we learned from the final in Lisbon.

Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman (C) celebrates after scoring (EPA)

The big calls in the lineups

Both managers had a couple of decisions to make even before kick-off, with players having to prove their fitness in the lead-up to the game.

For Thomas Tuchel, he opted to bring goalkeeper Keylor Navas back in, but Marco Verratti was left as sub.

The Costa Rican stopper looked fine, making some good reflex stops, while the Italian midfielder quickly had an impact after being brought on just after PSG went behind.

Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick opted to bring Kingsley Coman back in after a couple of sub run-outs, displacing Ivan Perisic, while Jerome Boateng kept his place in defence after a semi-final injury.

The latter certainly didn’t pan out, with the defender subbed off injured half-an-hour in. But Coman was a livewire, running constantly at Thilo Kehrer down the Bayern left, almost winning a penalty...and scoring the opening goal of the game.

Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman scores (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Attack v attack?

It was always unrealistic to expect both these sides to go all-out every time they get the ball, as they do in lesser games, against lesser opponents.

Despite the managers saying they wouldn’t change approach, it’s a natural instinct that some of the players were more cautious, more reluctant to leave themselves potentially open.

PSG’s shape was good for the most part, neither allowing space in behind for the pacy Bayern attack nor easy passes through the lines, while themselves didn’t commit as many players forward at once as is often the case.

There were certainly openings at sporadic moments and occasions when both sides could have pulled away, but it was far from the all-out-attack, two or three goals apiece spectacle which most anticipated.

Giant players missing their giant moment

For all the goals scored by all the attackers on show through the season, several of them missed their moment on the big stage.

Lewandowski’s good spin and shot was unlucky to strike the woodwork, but he might have done better with one of the other half-chances which fell his way.

Neymar started in great shape but faded badly and became quickly frustrated, while his attacking partner Mbappe struck two very good chances far too tamely.

Angel Di Maria was a poor performer, predictable in cutting inside first half and unable to stretch play from the left in the second; those three underperformers combined really minimised PSG’s chances of an equaliser.

And what do we make of previously starting No. 9 Mauro Icardi not even getting off the bench when PSG needed a goal?

Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman celebrates scoring (EPA)

Neuer the wall

Kicking aside, the German No. 1 was exceptional.

A few clearances and clipped passes out to the full-backs were problematic but one-on-one and shot-stopping, he was faultless.

After a couple of errors in the earlier rounds, this was a magnificent display—particularly stops from Mbappe and Nemyar.

Very late in the game he made another tremendous block against an offside Mbappe; it wouldn’t have counted, but was another brilliant representation of his technique, ability to spread himself and read play well at a key moment.

Champions of Europe

It was a game which split opinion in the build-up, could have gone either way by half time and was won by a single goal by the end.

They take the crown of Europe’s finest from Liverpool, and it’s a win which has been 24/seven years in the making, since their Cup Winners’ Cup triumph in the mid-90s/the last time they lifted the trophy at Wembley.

Bayern were certainly deserving winners, across the season and on the night.

And, impressively, they look built to dominate for far more than one year. Leroy Sane is on the way, players such as Niklas Sule are back to fitness, the age of the squad is good.

The leaders remain, the manager has had a great impact and it’s a hugely successful season to justify every decision they’ve made along the way.