For 31 years, no team had managed to put five goals past Bayern Munich in a Champions League knockout tie. Paris Saint-Germain ended that drought on Tuesday night, and they did it in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
The reigning champions edged the German giants 5-4 in a breathless first leg at the Parc des Princes, producing the highest-scoring semi-final in the competition’s history. The nine-goal thriller shattered the previous record of seven, set on four previous occasions, including last season’s Inter–Barcelona classic.
Bayern had travelled to Paris with the second-best defence in the Bundesliga, but PSG’s attack was relentless. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé each scored twice, while João Neves also found the net. Bayern’s four goals came from Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Dayot Upamecano and Colombian Luis Díaz.
PSG were ruthless in front of goal. All five of their shots on target beat Manuel Neuer. Bayern, who arrived on a 19-game unbeaten run, suffered their first defeat since January 24.
The first 45 minutes alone were unprecedented. Never before had five goals been scored in the opening half of a Champions League semi-final. Kane opened the scoring from the spot in the 17th minute, but PSG responded immediately. Kvaratskhelia equalised with a curling finish, before Neves headed in a corner to put PSG in front. Not long after, Olise scored to make it 2-2. Dembélé then converted a controversial penalty in first-half stoppage time after a VAR handball review, to give the hosts a slight advantage heading into the break.
The second half brought more chaos. Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé struck within two minutes of each other to make it 5-2. Bayern looked dead, but Upamecano and Díaz scored in quick succession to drag the tie back to 5-4.
“The kind of game we dream of playing in as kids,” PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal Plus.
On the other side, Harry Kane refused to count his side out. “We fought back and we’re still in the tie,” he told Amazon Prime. “I thought there was amazing defending even though there were nine goals.”
PSG’s victory was their 100th in the Champions League, making them the first French club to reach a century of wins. Kvaratskhelia’s double took his season tally to 10 Champions League goals, equalling Zlatan Ibrahimović’s Paris record for a single campaign set in 2013/14.
The second leg at the Allianz Arena on May 6 promises more drama. PSG seek to become only the second side in the modern era to retain the trophy. Bayern, the 2020 champions, need to overturn a one-goal deficit on home soil.
If the first leg is any guide, the record books may need another rewrite before this tie is done.
