Bayern Munich’s Dramatic First Half at Parc des Princes
In a dramatic first half at the Parc des Princes, Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz not only found the back of the net twice against Paris Saint-Germain, making it a remarkable 2-0 lead for his team, but he also faced expulsion for a reckless tackle on Achraf Hakimi just before halftime. This incident marks a historic moment in the UEFA Champions League, as Díaz became the first player ever to score two goals and receive a red card in the same half of a match.
Transfer and Performance
Signed in the summer for £65.5 million (approximately $85.3 million) from Liverpool, the Colombian forward had been enjoying a stellar performance, looking set for a man-of-the-match accolade. However, his night took a turn when he committed a dangerous challenge on the Moroccan defender, Hakimi, leading to an initial yellow card from referee Maurizio Mariani.
VAR Review and Consequences
After a review by VAR, Mariani was called to the pitchside monitor, resulting in the yellow card being upgraded to a red as he determined the severity of the tackle warranted greater punishment. Hakimi’s injury forced him out of the match and, coupled with the earlier substitution of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, who exited after just 25 minutes due to recurring hamstring issues, it deepened PSG’s woes in a troubling first half.
Dembélé, who had only just returned to play after a significant injury layoff, expressed discomfort in the same hamstring that had plagued him all season following PSG’s recent win against Nice.
