Luis Enrique, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, who comes up with a different combination of Lee Kang-in in every big game, made a similar choice this time. The result was a failure.
Bayern Munich, which played the fifth game of the 2024-2025 UCL League phase at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, won 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
As Bayern’s Kim Min-jae started and PSG’s Lee Kang-in played as a substitute, the “Dream Stage” big match became the Korean Derby.
Bayern took a breather. It had three wins and two losses through two consecutive wins, moving one step closer to advancing to the round of 16. On the other hand, PSG is in a crisis. The team has displayed sluggish performance so far with one win, one draw and three losses. The team’s ranking, which was ranked 25th in the fourth round as well, is likely to decline further due to this loss. Up to 24th place will be given the chance to advance to the round of 16.
Lee Kang-in was not included in the starting lineup. PSG did not replace Lee Kang-in but removed him altogether. The team has reduced the number of offensive players by changing the format to 4-4-2 instead of 4-3-3 formation, which it normally uses. It also displayed an approach to recruit four central midfielder-like players who are active, and compete with each other through activities and counterattacks.
However, PSG’s defeat was already dark as Kim Min-jae scored the first goal in a corner kick and PSG striker Usman Dembele was sent off with accumulated warnings.
Lee Kang-in was only introduced in the 20th minute of the second half. He entered with the game suspended ahead of the free kick, and as soon as he stepped on the ground, he handled the free kick with his first ball touch. And Lee Kang-in’s sharp left-footed kick flew into the Bayern gate, showing his value. Lee Kang-in’s kick was a ball that went in when his teammate couldn’t touch it by a hair.
However, PSG’s problem was that it did not improve the chaotic situation even after Lee Kang-in was deployed. Lee Kang-in was put into the right midfielder position held by Warren Zairemeri, and the team formation became 4-4-1 because one was sent off. PSG failed to drive the ball to Lee Kang-in or recover its usual play centered on Lee Kang-in.
PSG’s unilaterally beaten 구글SEO game came back to life as Lee Kang-in and aggressive full-back Ashraf Hakimi began to make more use of the right side. However, Lee Kang-in’s fellow players failed to make moves to lure the opponent, and Lee Kang-in was driving the ball alone and his cross was blocked.
In the end, Lee Kang-in’s opportunity to play was a set piece. In the 40th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in’s ball seemed to be aimed at Marquignos, who plays Papost, but it was an accurate kick, but Dayo Upamecano cleared it with a header first.
Since then, Lee Kang-in’s ball touch has been further reduced amid the team’s losing ground. After Lee Kang-in, PSG also tried to raise Lee Kang-in like a winger by putting Gonzalo Hamus and Marco Asensio in, but if they failed to deliver the ball to the rising attackers, they only made them like invisible people.
Even in the last corner kick opportunity in the second half of extra time, Lee Kang-in’s kick was sharp, but he could not overcome Bayern’s advantage in providing, which had a numerical advantage. It was not easy to find a player to receive a kick in the situation of PSG, which has a small average height.
Lee Kang-in is playing about 47 minutes per game with two starts and three replacements in UCL. Unlike his outstanding scoring ability in his own league, he has no offensive points in UCL.