PSG 5-4 Bayern Munich: Michael Olise outstanding in Champions League thriller | OneFootball

Bayern Munich remain very much alive in the tie despite suffering a dramatic 5-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg at the Parc des Princes.

In what will surely be remembered as one of the greatest Champions League matches in recent history, both sides produced spells of extraordinary quality, with Les Parisiens narrowly prevailing in a breathtaking contest that swung wildly from one moment to the next.

When PSG moved 5-2 ahead, many believed the semi-final was effectively settled, but the Bavarians refused to yield, shifting the momentum late on with two further goals to ensure they remain firmly in contention ahead of the return leg at the Allianz Arena.

PSG vs Bayern Munich: Match report

After a breathless opening in which both sides traded attacks at relentless speed, Bayern Munich struck first through Harry Kane after Luis Diaz won a penalty for the visitors.

The move began when Michael Olise reacted sharply inside the area, nudging the ball first time into the path of Diaz, who took it cleanly before drawing contact from William Pacho.

Kane stepped up with trademark composure, drilling low to the goalkeeper’s right and becoming the first English player to score in six consecutive Champions League matches.

The England captain was heavily involved again moments later, slipping a precise pass into the path of Olise, who darted in from the right and opened his body for a left-footed finish, only for Matvey Safonov to stand tall and make an important save.

PSG soon responded with a glorious chance of their own when Warren Zaire-Emery seized upon a loose Bayern pass in midfield and threaded a magnificent through ball for Ousmane Dembele, but with the goal at his mercy, the forward dragged his effort disappointingly wide.

It did not take long for the hosts to restore parity, as Desire Doue floated an intelligent pass over the top towards Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left, and the winger cut inside Josip Stanisic before curling a superb finish into the far corner.

Olise, however, continued to torment the PSG defence and in particular Nuno Mendes, gliding past his marker, beating Marquinhos and rattling the post with a fierce effort.

PSG then completed the turnaround through a sharp counter attack that ended with a corner, where Dembele delivered an inviting cross and the smallest player on the pitch, Joao Neves, guided a wonderfully clever header into the far corner.

Doue nearly extended the lead soon after, bursting into the area and firing from a tight angle, but his effort drifted narrowly away from the bottom corner.

Then came another flash of brilliance from Michael Olise, who danced beyond three defenders with dazzling footwork, shifted onto his favoured left foot and thundered an unstoppable strike beyond Safonov.

As the first half moved towards its close, controversy arrived in a moment that enraged Bayern. Dembele appealed furiously for a penalty after the ball struck the arm of Alphonso Davies inside the area.

Following a lengthy VAR review, referee Sandro Scharer pointed to the spot, much to the fury of the Bavarians. Dembele then embraced the pressure, powering his penalty beyond Manuel Neuer, who guessed correctly but could do nothing to keep out the venomous strike.

At the start of the second half, Jamal Musiala found Diaz in space, and the winger showed patience before clipping a measured pass towards Josip Stanisic at the far post, but the defender’s attempted touch across goal for Kane lacked precision and the chance slipped away.

Paris Saint-Germain gradually increased the pressure after the interval, began to impose themselves territorially, and soon found the reward their control deserved.

Achraf Hakimi reacted sharply, sliding an inviting ball into the danger area for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who timed his run perfectly before applying a composed finish.

At that stage, the tie looked in danger of slipping decisively away from Bayern, whose bravery in committing bodies forward only seemed to play into PSG’s preferred counter-attacking rhythm.

The hosts sensed vulnerability again when Desire Doue released Ousmane Dembele down the flank, leaving him isolated one-on-one with Dayot Upamecano, and after squaring up his marker, the French forward darted inside and drove a clever effort towards the near post.

Bayern Munich pulled a goal back when Joshua Kimmich delivered a beautifully measured free-kick onto the head of Dayot Upamecano, who glanced a clever flick beyond the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

The Bavarians soon thought they had another when Harry Kane produced a sublime pass into the path of Luis Diaz, whose first touch was exquisite before he surged beyond Marquinhos and finished brilliantly across goal.

The assistant’s flag initially went up, but replays showed Diaz had timed his run perfectly and was onside, meaning the goal stood after review.

PSG surged through the pitch at electrifying speed as Vitinha threaded an incisive pass into Senny Mayulu, whose fierce strike looked destined for goal before crashing against the upright.

Bayern Munich player ratings

Neuer – 6, Davies – 5, Tah – 7, Upamecano – 8, Stanisic – 7, Kimmich – 8, Pavlovic – 7, Olise – 9, Musiala – 7, Diaz- 9, Kane – 8

Bayern subs: Ulreich, Urbig – Kim, Goretzka, Jackson, Itō, Laimer, Ofli, Pavić

PSG vs Bayern Munich: Match stats

Possession: PSG – 42.6% ; Bayern Munich – 57.4%