Paris Saint-Germain beat German champions Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg encounter in an entertaining fashion, recording a 5-4 win at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night.
It was the visitors who drew first blood when Harry Kane converted from the spot to give Bayern an early lead, his thirteenth in this season’s Champions League.
Bayern could have extended their advantage soon after, but Michael Olise squandered a glorious chance after Safonov forced a save, before Marquinhos cleared the resulting rolling ball off the line.
Les Parisiens responded in quick fashion, drawing level just seven minutes later through Kvicha Kvaratskhelia after Kane had opened the scoring. João Neves then gave PSG the lead for the first time in the game, but Bayern hit back again with Olise making amends to equalize.
The drama continued in a breathless first half as Ousmane Dembélé also scored a penalty to restore Paris’ lead, marking the fifth goal of a remarkable opening 45 minutes.
The second half followed a similar script. Kvaratskhelia grabbed his second of the night with a composed finish before Dembélé added a fifth to give PSG what looked like a commanding three-goal cushion.
Bayern, however, refused to budge. Dayot Upamecano pulled one back to spark hope before Luis Díaz added another, reducing the deficit to just one goal and setting up a tense finale in Germany. Despite late pressure from the Bavarians, PSG held on to secure a narrow advantage heading into the return leg.
Harry Kane reflected on the contest after the final whistle. “I think we saw two high-level teams out there today, especially in the attacking play and in the transitions, the speed, the intensity in the 1v1 battles. Two of the top teams going toe-to-toe.”
Highest Scoring Semi final Game
History was also made with the scoreline. With nine goals scored, the fixture became the highest-scoring single semi-final game in the history of the UEFA Champions League.
It surpassed the memorable 4-3 encounter between Real Madrid and Manchester City during the 2021-22 season.
The number of goals scored in the first half also set a new benchmark. The five goals now stand as the most ever recorded in the opening half of a semi-final clash in the competition.
While other fixtures have produced a flurry of goals across two legs, few have matched the sheer intensity of this encounter in a single match. Last season, Inter Milan edged Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate after a 3-3 draw in Spain and a 4-3 win in Italy to reach the final, where they eventually lost to Paris Saint-Germain.
All To Play For in Munich
The return leg next week promises to follow a similar script, with both teams prioritising attacking football over defensive caution.
The slender PSG lead means they will have to remain aggressive to put the tie to bed, while Bayern—now chasing the game—cannot afford to sit back, potentially setting the stage for another end-to-end contest at the Allianz Arena.
Ousmane Dembélé acknowledged the challenge ahead and expects the second leg to mirror the first in attacking intent.
“We’re two sides that want to attack. We won’t change our philosophy. We want to attack and so do they, so I think a great game is expected for the second leg too.”
Ousmane Dembélé, PSG forward
Luis Enrique’s men are bidding for their third UEFA Champions League final appearance and a second crown after winning last season.
For Bayern, a first final since 2020 when they defeated PSG remains firmly within reach, with the decisive leg set to be played on home soil in Munich.
READ ALSO: Government Pays GH¢429.5m to Fast Track Suame Interchange
