UCL: PSG beat Bayern in nine-goal semi-final thriller

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele scored twice each as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Bayern Munich 5-4 in an epic first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

The extraordinary encounter becomes the highest-scoring match ever in Champions League semi-final

Harry Kane gave Bayern the lead from a penalty in the first half, only for Kvaratskhelia to equalise before Joao Neves headed the hosts in front at an enthralled Parc des Princes.

Michael Olise made it 2-2, but a Dembele penalty in first-half stoppage time had the reigning champions back ahead at the interval.

Kvaratskhelia, surely the standout player in this season’s Champions League, and Dembele both then scored again to have PSG seemingly out of sight, only for Dayot Upamecano to pull one back before Luis Diaz made it 5-4.

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An unforgettable game – perhaps better even than last season’s semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona – leaves the tie between the continent’s two best teams of the moment wonderfully poised for next Wednesday’s return at the Allianz Arena, with a place in the final in Budapest on May 30 on the line.

Luis Enrique’s Parisians will be returning to Munich – scene of their 5-0 win over Inter in last year’s final – with the advantage, but Bayern will be confident they can overturn the narrow deficit at home.

PSG are seeking to become just the second side in the modern Champions League era to retain the trophy, while Bayern are hoping to reach the final for the first time since 2020, when they defeated PSG to lift the trophy for the sixth time.