PSG 5-4 Bayern Munich: PSG edge Bayern in record-breaking Champions League classic | OneFootball

PSG and Bayern Munich played out a nine-goal thriller at the Parc des Princes with the home side coming out on top in a record breaking Champions League Semi-Final.

Bayern opened the scoring from the penalty spot through Harry Kane before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and João Neves turned the game on its head for PSG. Michael Olise levelled after 41 minutes before Ousmane Dembélé restored the hosts’ lead from the spot to cap off a breathless first half.

The second half did not disappoint as PSG added another two goals in quick succession before the hour mark, with Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé both adding to their first half goal as the home side raced to a three goal lead.

Dayot Upamecano got a touch on a Joshua Kimmich free-kick to score Bayern’s third of the evening with 25 minutes still to play, before Luis Díaz scored to make it 5-4 soon after.

As it happened

After an even opening 15 minutes at the Parc des Princes, it was the German side who struck first. Luis Díaz was brought down in the box allowing Harry Kane to step up and send Matvey Safonov the wrong way, giving Bayern the early advantage in the tie. Kane’s goal was his 54th of the season and his 13th in the Champions League, helping to keep up their record of scoring in every single game this season.

Bayern were so close to doubling their advantage very soon afterwards, as Kane picked out Michael Olise in the box, but Safonov got a touch before Marquinhos cleared it off the line.

PSG very nearly levelled after a fast break as Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé found himself one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, but he got his finish all wrong and pulled it well wide.

But less than a minute later, they did have their equaliser. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia did brilliantly down the left before working the ball onto his right foot and curling it into the bottom corner, leaving Neuer with no chance and making it all square after an end-to-end opening 25 minutes.

Incredible work from Olise down the right as he took it past Nuno Mendes and Marquinhos, but his effort couldn’t quite be bundled home after it clipped the post. At the other end, Désiré Doué showed outstanding close control to weave past the Bayern defenders before firing a shot which deflected just wide.

From the resulting corner, PSG took the lead through João Neves. Dembélé whipped a lovely ball into the front post where it met the head of Neves, who flicked a header back across goal into the far corner as PSG turned the game around within 10 minutes.

The chances didn’t stop there for either team as both sides passed up huge opportunities through Jamal Musiala and Doué.

The goals also just did not stop as Bayern levelled five minutes before the break through Olise. He showed quick feet at the edge of the box to create some space before unleashing a powerful effort which flew past Safonov as the two highest-scoring teams in the competition both reached 40 Champions League goals for the season.

Les Parisiens were awarded a controversial penalty in added time before half-time which Dembélé stepped up and dispatched brilliantly into the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead with the final kick of a remarkable first half.

Within 10 minutes of the restart, there was yet another goal as PSG extended their lead with Kvaratskhelia getting on the end of a Hakimi cross as the Georgian winger grabbed his second of the evening.

And two minutes later, they had a fifth. Bayern left themselves exposed at the back and PSG punished them on the break. Doué carried the ball before finding Dembélé who gave Neuer the eyes and fired home at the near post as Les Parisiens showed their clinical edge to take the game away from the visitors in the blink of an eye.

It wasn’t long before Bayern got one back as Dayot Upamecano got a slight touch on a Joshua Kimmich free-kick to give the German champions hope in the tie with 25 minutes still to play.

And soon after, the visitors scored again to make it 5-4 on the night. Díaz raced onto a long ball before showing incredible composure to take it past Marquinhos and fire home. Initially flagged offside, the decision was overturned and Bayern were back within a goal.

Substitute Senny Mayulu almost added a tenth goal of the tie, but he saw an effort bounce back off the crossbar as PSG looked to try to restore a more comfortable advantage in the game.

Kimmich had a header cleared off the line from the final corner of the game as PSG came out victorious in one of the greatest football matches of all time.

A game between the two top-scoring teams, with a combined 76 goals between them in this season’s Champions League promised to deliver goals, and it most certainly did that. The level of quality in both teams’ attacks resulted in a record-breaking game, breaking the record for the highest-scoring semi-final in Champions League history. With the tie lying finely in the balance after Bayern’s courageous fightback, football fans around the world will be hoping that the second leg in Germany next week can produce anywhere near the same level of quality.