In a nine-goal Champions League classic, holders PSG sensationally defeated Bayern Munich 5-4 in the first leg of the semi-final in Paris.
The goal fest saw Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer fail to make a save, but it was the first time either team had scored more than four goals in a European semi-final match.
This game was also the highest scoring match in a European Cup semi-final since Rangers lost 6-3 to Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960.
An impressive five-goal performance at the Parc des Princes saw PSG take a 3-2 lead at half-time thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s stoppage-time penalty.
Kvaratschelia and Dembele then scored in the opening 143 seconds, giving PSG a 5-2 lead in the 58th minute.
But Bayern fought back with two goals in three minutes from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz to make it 5-4 in the 68th minute and give them hope for next Wednesday’s return match in Germany.
Five goals in the second leg at the Allianz Arena would tie for the most goals scored in a Champions League knockout match in history – and man of the match Dembele expects another goal-scoring match in Munich.
He told Canal+ Foot: “It was a match between two great teams who attacked without hesitation.
“We stopped playing a little bit towards the end at 5-2, but I’m happy with the result.
“We’re not going to change our philosophy. We’re going to attack and they’re going to attack. So I think it’s going to be a great second game.”
Ousmane Dembele scores his second goal and PSG’s fifth
how the epic unfolded
The eventful encounter began with Harry Kane opening the scoring in the 17th minute with a penalty, his 59th goal for club and country this season.
Kvaratschelia, who was instrumental in the victory, immediately scored a wonderful equalizer, and in the 33rd minute Joao Neves headed in to put PSG ahead.
PSG’s Joao Neves scored the goal to make it 2-1.
Michael Oliseh equalized in the 41st minute, but Dembele took a controversial penalty five minutes into stoppage time after a handball from Alphonso Davies, which was awarded after a VAR review on the pitchside monitor despite Dembele’s cross hitting Davies’ leg before hitting his arm.
Luis Enrique’s side then looked set to take full control early in the second half as Kvaratsjhelia forced home and Dembele hit the post with a wonderful goal to give PSG a three-goal lead.
PSG’s Hviča Kvaratscheria (left) scored two goals in the victory.
But Upamecano’s header in the 65th minute sparked Bayern’s fightback, and three minutes later Diaz’s effort fell off Kane’s lob pass and fired past PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
The former Liverpool forward’s goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR check overturned the decision, giving the German champions hope of reaching their first Champions League final in six years.
Kane praises ‘great defense’ but Rooney denies it
Harry Kane celebrates after scoring against PSG in the Champions League semi-final first leg
Kane described the defending in the nine-goal thriller as “excellent”, but Wayne Rooney disagreed.
Kane told Amazon Prime: “Despite the nine goals scored, there was some great defending.
“We have the best players in the world, the best attackers, the best defenders. Of course, sometimes the attackers come out on top and show their quality.
“When you go back and see the centre-halves playing in midfield, sometimes attacking, out wide against the wingers, it’s a credit to them. It’s a really tough job. I thought they were outstanding.”
But Rooney saw it differently.
He told Amazon Prime: “I love Harry Kane, everyone can see that from what I say about him. But there’s no way he would praise the defenders.”
“Probably because they’re his teammates. He’s trying to give them a little bit of confidence going into next week. The defense on both teams was really bad, if he’s being honest.”
“Both teams have so much quality at the top end of the pitch that we probably forgot to defend, which means we can enjoy some great goals.”
He added: “It was a crazy, chaotic game. Both teams have so much quality at the top end of the pitch that they probably forgot about defense a little bit.”
“Luis Enrique is a top coach, so when we got a 5-on-2 advantage, I think he should have said, ‘Shut up and get behind the ball.’
“But they want more goals and Vincent Kompany has created a very attack-minded (Bayern) team.
“We saw some inexperienced defense, which is crazy.”
Kara: Almost impossible to stop the goal.
Michael Olise celebrates 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher told CBS Sports:
“When you watch a game like that, normally you would say, “We’re not defending well enough” or “We’re not up to the standard of football at this level.”
“But what I want to say is that every attacking player on the pitch was 8 or 9 out of 10. Every attacking player was better than the other player.”
“When I think back to the goal, it wasn’t like the goalkeeper was barking or there was some stupid defending, it just felt like a great goal.
“The defenders weren’t making fun of themselves. The attacking play was very high and it was almost impossible to stop them from scoring.”
Henry: The risk paid off.
PSG will beat Munich by one goal next Wednesday
Thierry Henry told CBS Sports:
“We’ve been talking a lot about teams not taking enough risks. We’re talking more about teams not losing games than winning games.
“We had a lot of risks tonight. If we’re wearing our hard hats, we might get carried away by what we saw tonight.
“But I don’t care.
“People have been complaining that soccer is boring. That game wasn’t boring. It was just crazy at times.”
Best statistics and facts of all time
PSG coach Luis Enrique recorded his 50th win in the Champions League. In his 77th game, he became the fastest player in tournament history to reach this milestone. This is the first time in the history of the UEFA Champions League that two teams have scored more than 40 goals, PSG (43 goals) and Bayern Munich (42 goals). PSG scored with all five shots on target against Bayern Munich. This is the first time on record (since the 2003-04 season) that a team has had five or more shots on target and converted all of them in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage match. Ousmane Dembele (11 goals, 7 assists) has been involved in more goals in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League than any other PSG player. Since joining PSG last year, only Harry Kane (21) has been involved in more Champions League goals than Hviča Kvaratschelia (20 – 13 goals, 7 assists) Harry Kane’s opening goal for Bayern Munich made him the first English player to score in six consecutive Champions League games.
What will happen to PSG and Bayern Munich?
Before the return leg at Bayern next Wednesday, PSG face Lorient in Ligue 1 on Saturday afternoon.
Already the German champions, Bayern Munich will face Heidenheim, the bottom of the Bundesliga, on Saturday.
