Titleholders Paris Saint-Germain trailed early, led by three goals and ultimately held on for a pulsating 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the highest-scoring semifinal match in Champions League history. And there’s still next week’s second leg to come.
PSG built a 5-2 lead early in the second half thanks to two goals each from flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé at Parc des Princes. “We deserved to win, we deserved to lose, we deserved to draw,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “It was an exceptional match, I have never experienced a match of such intensity as a coach. I have never seen a rhythm like that, it was incredible, you have to congratulate all the players.” Down by three goals, Bayern fought back brilliantly.
Defender Dayot Upamecano's header midway through the second half from Joshua Kimmich's free kick gave Bayern hope and Luis Díaz's stinging strike made it a one-goal deficit heading into next Wednesday's return leg in Munich.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was suspended, so assistant Aaron Danks took over on the touchline as Bayern lost for the first time in any competition since January 24. Harry Kane's penalty gave Bayern the lead in the 17th minute and Kvaratskhelia equalised soon after for PSG. Midfielder João Neves then headed PSG ahead from a corner.
A dramatic first half saw Michael Olise equalise for Bayern after bursting into the area before Swiss referee Sandro Schärer awarded a penalty for PSG when a video review spotted a handball from Canada defender Alphonso Davies. PSG’s penalty was contested by Bayern’s players. Davies turned his body to Dembélé’s right-wing cross but the ball bounced off his hip and hit his arm. Although Davies was turning away from play he failed to keep his hands behind his back.
Dembélé fired the penalty past Manuel Neuer to send PSG ahead 3-2 at the break. “Two great teams who attack and don't question themselves,” Dembélé said. "It was an incredible match, but now we go to Munich to qualify. We won’t change our way of playing, and it will be two teams who attack,” he said.
Also read: Premier League: Man City pip Arsenal 2-1
Follow us
