Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele each struck twice as Paris Saint-Germain edged Bayern Munich 5-4 in a thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday, setting a new record for the highest-scoring match at this stage of the tournament.
The opening half was a whirlwind, with Harry Kane putting Bayern ahead from the spot before Kvaratskhelia quickly levelled. Joao Neves then headed PSG in front, sending the Parc des Princes crowd into a frenzy. Michael Olise brought Bayern back on terms, but Dembele’s penalty in stoppage time restored the home side’s advantage at the break.
Kvaratskhelia and Dembele each added another after halftime, giving PSG what looked to be a commanding lead. However, Dayot Upamecano headed in to reduce the deficit, and Luis Diaz made it 5-4 to keep Bayern firmly in contention.
The pulsating encounter—arguably even more dramatic than last year’s Inter Milan-Barcelona semi-final—sets up a tantalising second leg at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday, with a spot in the Budapest final on May 30 at stake.
Luis Enrique’s men travel to Munich with a slender advantage, having famously routed Inter 5-0 there in last season’s final. Bayern, meanwhile, will be confident of overturning the deficit on home soil.
PSG are aiming to become just the second team to retain the Champions League title in the modern era, while Bayern are seeking their first final appearance since 2020, when they defeated PSG to claim a sixth European crown.
The match lived up to the hype, with Vincent Kompany’s Bayern side—powered by Harry Kane’s remarkable 53 goals this season—showcasing their firepower. Kane struck his 54th of the campaign from the penalty spot after Willian Pacho’s foul on Diaz.
The visitors, who had beaten PSG in Paris earlier in the group stage, started brightly but were vulnerable on the counter. Kvaratskhelia’s trademark run and finish brought PSG level, and Neves soon nodded the hosts ahead from a Dembele corner.
Olise then surged into the box to equalise for Bayern, before a Dembele penalty, awarded after a VAR review for handball, made it 3-2 at halftime.
Kvaratskhelia swept in Achraf Hakimi’s cross for his seventh goal in as many knockout games, and Dembele added PSG’s fifth with a sharp finish at the near post. Bayern, however, refused to fold: Upamecano headed in from a Joshua Kimmich free-kick, and Diaz capped the scoring after racing clear and finishing coolly.
Kompany, suspended and watching from the stands, would have been pleased with his side’s resilience, especially as PSG nearly added a sixth when Senny Mayulu’s late effort rattled the crossbar.
The stage is now set for a blockbuster decider in Munich.
