Paris Saint-Germain survived a remarkable Bayern Munich comeback to win the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final 5-4 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, with Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia both scoring twice to give the holders a one-goal aggregate advantage heading into the return leg at the Allianz Arena.
The match entered Champions League folklore almost immediately. Bayern, who conceded five goals in the away leg of a European semi-final for the first time in their history, refused to fold and clawed their way back from three goals down to within one before PSG held on for a result that leaves the German side needing to win by at least two goals in Munich to advance without extra time.
The aggregate winners will face either Atletico Madrid or Arsenal in the final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on 30 May.
A goal for every quarter of the ground
Harry Kane opened Bayern’s account from the penalty spot in the first half, and Michael Olise, who has had an extraordinary breakout European season, drove into the PSG box and hammered in a fierce finish for 2-2, his 20th goal across all competitions this campaign.
But PSG were relentless in their forward play, and Dembele and Kvaratskhelia both scored twice across the ninety minutes to give the champions their lead. Bayern mounted their response in the second half: Dayot Upamecano headed home from a set piece to cut the deficit, and substitute Luis Diaz, introduced to add width and directness, made it 5-4 with the game in its final stages.
The closing minutes were feverish, with PSG surviving sustained Bayern pressure to see out a nerve-shredding win.
What Bayern need in Munich
PSG’s one-goal aggregate lead means Vincent Kompany’s side need to score at least twice at the Allianz Arena without conceding if they are to reach the Budapest final without extra time. A single Bayern goal would push the tie to extra time and, if necessary, penalties.
Bayern’s second-half performance in Paris showed they carry genuine attacking threat even when chasing the game, and four away goals in a European semi-final is not a performance to be dismissed lightly.
But PSG’s ability to sustain their forward intensity across the full ninety minutes of a knockout fixture has been the defining feature of their Champions League campaign as holders, and they will arrive in Munich in confident form.
South African football fans can follow the second leg on SuperSport.
The return leg at the Allianz Arena now carries the entire weight of Bayern’s European season.
Whether Kompany’s side can maintain the intensity that produced the second-half fightback in Paris, and do so from the first minute this time, is the central question of the tie.
