A nine-goal Champions League classic in Paris saw holders PSG edge Bayern Munich 5-4 in the first leg of their semi-final.
Key moments
– 17′: Harry Kane (pen) opens scoring for Bayern.
– 24′: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stuns to level for PSG.
– 33′: João Neves heads PSG in front from a corner.
– 41′: Michael Olise smashes in to make it 2-2.
– 45+5′: Ousmane Dembélé converts a penalty after a VAR review for an Alphonso Davies handball.
– 56′: Kvaratskhelia sweeps home his second.
– 58′: Dembélé curls in PSG’s fifth.
– 65′: Dayot Upamecano heads Bayern back into it.
– 68′: Luis Díaz scores after VAR overturns an offside flag.
The match, in which Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did not make a save, marked the first European semi-final when both teams scored four or more goals and was the joint-highest scoring semi-final in European Cup history alongside Rangers 6-3 Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960.
A frantic first half ended 3-2 to PSG after Dembélé’s stoppage-time penalty. Early in the second half Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé struck within 143 seconds to put PSG 5-2 up. Bayern responded with headers from Upamecano and a composed finish from Díaz to make it 5-4, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of next Wednesday’s return in Munich. If five goals are scored at the Allianz Arena, this would become the highest-scoring Champions League knockout tie on aggregate.
Dembélé told Canal+ Foot: “It was a match between two great teams who attack, who don’t hesitate. We’re happy with the result, even though at 5-2 we stopped playing a bit towards the end. We’re not going to change our philosophy. We’re going to attack, and they’re going to attack too. So I think it’s going to be a great second match.”
How it unfolded
Kane’s 17th-minute penalty—his 59th goal for club and country this season—gave Bayern an early lead. Kvaratskhelia replied with a superb equaliser and Neves nodded PSG ahead before Olise’s powerful strike restored parity. The late first-half VAR decision awarded PSG a penalty after Dembélé’s cross struck Davies and was ruled a handball at the pitchside monitor, allowing Dembélé to send PSG in front at half-time.
Kvaratskhelia’s second and Dembélé’s excellent near-post strike increased the hosts’ lead, but Upamecano’s header and Díaz’s goal—initially disallowed for offside then reinstated by VAR—set up a nervy finish for PSG.
Reactions and debate
Kane praised the defending despite nine goals, saying on Amazon Prime there was “some amazing defending” and praising the quality of players involved. Wayne Rooney disagreed, suggesting the defending from both sides was poor.
Jamie Carragher on CBS Sports argued the match showcased exceptional attacking performances: every attacker was around an eight or nine out of 10, and the goals came from high-quality attacking play rather than egregious defensive errors. Thierry Henry, also on CBS Sports, applauded the risks taken by both teams, saying the game answered complaints that football can be boring.
Records and stats
– Most goals in a Champions League knockout tie (aggregate examples): Inter 7-6 Barcelona (2024/25 semis), Liverpool 7-6 Roma (2017/18 semis), Bayern 12-1 Sporting CP (2008/09 round of 16).
– Luis Enrique recorded his 50th Champions League win in his 77th game—fastest to that milestone in the competition.
– This is the first Champions League season with two teams scoring 40+ goals: PSG (43) and Bayern (42).
– PSG scored with all five of their shots on target—a first on record (since 2003-04) for 5+ shots on target all converted in a Champions League knockout match.
– Dembélé (11 goals, 7 assists) has been involved in more Champions League knockout-stage goals for PSG than any other player.
– Since joining PSG last year, only Harry Kane (21) has been involved in more Champions League goals than Kvaratskhelia (20: 13 goals, 7 assists).
– Kane became the first English player to score in six consecutive Champions League matches.
The tie heads to Munich with PSG holding a one-goal advantage, and both teams — and pundits — expect another open, attacking second leg.