Goals galore as PSG beats Bayern Munich in record-setting CL semis
Titleholder 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 Dembele 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 Diaz’s stinging strike made it a one-goal deficit heading into next Wednesday’s return leg in Munich.
“I think something special can happen at home, there will be 75,000 people, it will be a hell of an atmosphere,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said. “The Allianz Arena is a mythical area where Bayern has enjoyed much success.”
Rather than scale back and defend more, Kompany said he was ready to take even more risks.
“There is no middle ground,” he said. “We will give everything, everything, everything we have. We’re waiting for them, we want this.” Kompany was suspended and watched from the stands, so assistant Aaron Danks took over on the touchline as Bayern lost for the first time in any competition since Jan. 24.
Harry Kane’s penalty gave Bayern the lead in the 17th minute and Kvaratskhelia equalized soon after for PSG. Midfielder Joao Neves — who is 5-foot-7 — 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 Scharer awarded a penalty for PSG when a video review spotted a handball from Canada defender Alphonso Davies.
