FC Bayern Munich suffered a dramatic 5-4 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in Tuesday night’s blockbuster UEFA Champions League — the highest-scoring semi-final match in the competition’s history.
Harry Kane and Michael Olise were on target for Bayern in a frantic first half, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, João Neves and Ousmane Dembélé found the net for PSG. Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé struck again after the break to put the hosts 5-2 ahead, but Bayern staged a late fightback through Dayot Upamecano and Luis Díaz, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of next week’s second leg.
Bayern started with Manuel Neuer in goal, behind a backline of Josip Stanišić, Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Alphonso Davies. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović operated in midfield, with Díaz, Jamal Musiala and Olise supporting Kane in attack. Konrad Laimer replaced Davies at half-time, while Leon Goretzka and Nicolas Jackson came on late in the game.
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Bayern made the brighter start but struggled to create clear openings early on. The visitors were handed the breakthrough when Díaz was brought down inside the area, allowing Kane to calmly convert from the penalty spot.
PSG goalkeeper Matvej Safonov denied Olise soon after, before momentum shifted as Dembélé fired wide and Kvaratskhelia beat Neuer to level the score.
Olise then produced a brilliant run before setting up a chance that saw Neves hit his own post, but the Portuguese midfielder quickly made amends by heading PSG in front. Bayern responded almost immediately as Olise rifled past Safonov to make it 3-3.
However, PSG regained the lead just before the break after being awarded a penalty for handball following a VAR review, with Dembélé converting to make it 4-3.
The intensity continued in the second half. Díaz went close before Achraf Hakimi delivered a low cross for Kvaratskhelia to score PSG’s fifth. Just three minutes later, Dembélé added another after a swift counterattack to extend the hosts’ advantage to 5-2.
Bayern refused to give up and pulled one back when Upamecano turned Kimmich’s free-kick into the net. Díaz then reduced the deficit further after controlling Kane’s superb long pass before cutting inside and finishing clinically.
Tah nearly grabbed a dramatic equaliser late on, but his header was saved, while Senny Mayulu struck the crossbar for PSG as the thriller ended with nine goals at the Parc des Princes.
Bayern return to Bundesliga action on Saturday against 1. FC Heidenheim before hosting PSG in the decisive second leg at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday.
Team line-ups
Paris: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes (Lucas Hernández 84); Zaïre-Emery (Fabián Ruiz 64), Vitinha, João Neves; Doué (Barcola 70), Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia (Mayulu 84)
Bayern: Neuer; Stanišić, Upamecano, Tah, Davies (Laimer 46); Kimmich, Pavlović (Jackson 90+3); Olise, Musiala (Goretzka 79), Luis Díaz; Kane
