PSG beats Bayern in Champions League classic
Paris Saint-Germain edged out Bayern Munich 5-4 in a history-making Champions League semi-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.
The reigning European champion and the Bundesliga's newly-crowned champion served up an instant classic in the French capital, where two world-class attacks traded blow for blow and a new record was set for goals in a Champions League semi-final.
By the 58th minute, PSG – which fell behind to Harry Kane's penalty – was leading 5-2. Ten minutes later, Bayern had fought back to within a goal to keep the tie firmly in the balance ahead of the second leg in Munich next week.
A frantic start set the tone for an epic battle, the end-to-end nature on show from the off as Alphonso Davies made a vital clearance for Bayern, which raced forward and won a penalty when Luis Diaz was felled by Willian Pacho.
Kane sent Matvey Safonov the wrong way to match Robert Lewandowski's club record of netting in five straight Champions League knockout games.
The England captain then slipped in Michael Olise for a chance, but Safonov came up with a huge save, and PSG made its reprieve count in the 24th minute.
After Ousmane Dembele sliced wide when one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left and picked out the bottom-right corner.
Olise saw a cutback saved onto the post at the other end before Desire Doue had an effort deflected wide, and from the resulting corner, Joao Neves headed PSG into the lead.
Parity was restored in the 41st minute, Olise whipping home at the end of a jinking run, but PSG had the lead back with the final kick of the first half as Dembele slammed in from the penalty spot after Davies was harshly adjudged to have handled following a VAR check.
Konrad Laimer skewed wide as the pulsating pace continued after the break, and PSG made Bayern pay with two goals in as many minutes. Kvaratskhelia drilled in his second from Achraf Hakimi's low centre, before Dembele doubled up with a sublime finish off the left-hand post.
Bayern, though, was not down and out. Dayot Upamecano nodded in from Joshua Kimmich's teasing free-kick, and Kane then picked out Diaz, whose excellent control and finish was initially ruled out for offside, but then awarded by VAR.
Senny Mayulu crashed a shot against the bar late on, with Kimmich seeing a header cleared off the line as the drama continued until the last moment.































