Former Socceroo Mark Bosnich was missing from Stan Sport’s Champions League coverage on Thursday after being taken to hospital with a heart scare.
His co-presenters on the coverage – Craig Foster and Max Rushden – revealed Bozza’s plight before the start of the two Thursday games, which saw Paris beat Real Sociedad 2-0 and Lazio beat 10-man Bayern Munich 1-0.
Bozza sent a message from hospital where he had a stent inserted after a scare on Wednesday while exercising. He said he would be back at work on Friday for the Europa League fixtures.
“We miss you buddy. I hope you’re well and feeling OK,” Foster said about his 52-year-old colleague.
Watch every match of the UEFA Champions League exclusive & ad-free, live & on demand on Stan Sport.
Rushden said concern was raised while Bosnich was working out.
“He was making a lot of noise… and he said ‘I’m going to get it checked out’,” Rushden said.
“He did, he’s OK, he’s back tomorrow but we are sending you our love Boz, it is very quiet without you.”
Foster added: “Men are useless at talking about it and doing anything about it.”
The sooner you find anything is wrong, the better it is. That is our message and that is Bozza’s message too.”
Star striker Kylian Mbappe broke a tense deadlock in Paris before PSG went to a comfortable first leg advantage over Sociedad.
The France World Cup winner was allowed to escape attention at the back post to turn in a flicked on header from Marquinos, while Bradley Barcola added the second with a cute toe poke through the legs of keeper Alex Remiro.
Mbappe’s future remains under a cloud. He is off contract at the end of the season and Real Madrid shapes as the most likely destination for next season but PSG fans will be hoping for a farewell gift in this tournament after years of under achievement.
Qatar-owned PSG have spent a fortune only to be eliminated from the last 16 of the Champions League five times in the past seven seasons.
They have won nine Ligue 1 titles since Qatar Sports Investments took over in 2011 but not the trophy they crave the most.
German manager Thomas Tuchel will be under further pressure following a defeat to Lazio on the road. While the 1-0 scoreline gives the German giants plenty of hope of turning the tie, they lost Dayot Upamecano to a straight red card in the second half incident that led to Ciro Immobile’s penalty spot winner.
A 3-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on the weekend left them five points adrift on the Bundesliga table, and not they’re on the brink in the competition they’ve won five times.
Tuchel has lost 10 of his 43 matches as Bayern boss.
That is as many defeats as Julian Nagelsmann suffered in 84 games before being sacked and replaced by Tuchel.
“Sometimes when things aren’t going your way every little mistake becomes a big highlighted factor and it amounts to a penalty, a goal or a big situation at the football club,” said former England player Rio Ferdinand.
“When it is such big club like Bayern Munich where every little factor is highlighted it becomes a soap opera every weekend and that is where they are at the moment.
“Bayern are playing ugly football. It is ugly.
“I wouldn’t bet against Lazio going there and stifling them again. Bayern have a lack of confidence, they are in a rut and I don’t see how they are going to get out of it before the second leg.
“If they don’t have good results in the league before then I don’t know how they turn it around.”
It marked the first time Bayern haven’t scored in two games in a row since 2015.
“Really tough week. In the first half we started well and had clear chances, one for myself. In these games they’re big moments, “said their English striker Harry Kane.
“The second half was disappointing. We came out with less energy and less confidence. We got punished. Once you go down to 10 men it’s always difficult.
“We have to find it among ourselves. We’re still in the race for the Bundesliga and in this tie. We have to keep fighting.
“We’re in a difficult spell. We have to fight. We have to turn it round. We have big games and big things to fight for. We’re not out of it, we will never give up. We just need to turn it around. One game or spark can turn it round.”
Ten goals flew in across the opening two quarterfinals of the Champions League as honours ended all square in Madrid and London. An incredible…
Two of the biggest names in the striker game stood up to be counted as the first two teams through to the Champions League…
The Champions League returns over the next two weeks with the round of 16 second leg ties. Big guns and Manchester City and Real…
Erling Haaland has missed a first-half penalty but still scored to help Manchester City advance to a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid with…
Tottenham Hotspur and Eintracht Frankfurt have booked Champions League last-16 berths with 2-1 comeback victories in a thrilling finale to Group D.
