A football match that scored five goals in the first half, four more in the second, and featured the most thrilling end-to-end action seen in recent years is being hailed as the greatest UEFA Champions League semi-final of all time.
Even before kick-off, Tuesday’s Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich semi-final was predicted to be full of goals, but experts and fans were left stunned by the quality of football that booked those nine goals.
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Football great Thierry Henry described the game, which ended in a 5–4 PSG victory, as “pure cinema” in his post-match analysis on CBS Sports.
“Whoever missed this game, may he rest in peace,” said the former France talisman.
“This is football at its finest. Pure cinema. From end to end, no breaks, no breathing room… you blink and you miss something.”
It took 17 minutes for in-form striker Harry Kane to open the scoring in the match, as he converted a penalty for Bayern Munich against title holders Bayern Munich, but the home side equalized seven minutes later thanks to a one-on-one move by Khvicha Kvaratskheliya against Josip Stanisic. Bayern’s right-backs were left stunned when Kvaratskhelia fired a spectacular curling shot inside the right post of the German team’s goal.
There was no let up in spectacular action as both teams continued to push for the lead, with Joao Neves delighting the home fans by scoring from a corner in the 33rd minute.
Bayern’s second goal, which made things even after eight minutes, was another goal for the highlight reel as Michel Olisse made up for an earlier missed opportunity to waltz through the PSG defense and fire the ball into the net.
Henry, considered one of football’s greatest players of all time, said Olise was a “special” player.
“You see Nuno Mendes (PSG leftback), who has been locking down wingers all season, suddenly battling with Michael Olise… that boy is special,” the former Arsenal legend said.
“On the other hand, Luis Diaz never stops running… I don’t think (Achraf) Hakimi held his breath even once. Then Kwara (Kwaratskheliya)… everything he touches looks dangerous.
(Ousmane) Dembele is playing freely, doing whatever he wants… it’s ridiculous. And in between, Vitinha is controlling everything like it’s her own playground.
There was one more goal left in the first half when Ballon d’Or winner Dembele scored from the spot to put his side back ahead.
The first-half action alone was enough to convince Bastian Schweinsteiger that he was watching “the best Champions League match in years”.
The former long-term Bayern player posted a selfie in the German club’s shirt while waiting for the second half.
‘This game had everything’
Eleven minutes into the second half and Kvaratskhelia found himself on the scoring sheet again as the Georgian forward found himself open in front of goal from a Hakimi pass and fired the ball into the net.
PSG’s lead was extended by Dembéléde two minutes later when he dodged two Bayern defenders and fired the ball into Manuel Neuer’s goal.
The former Manchester United defender said the game was a great display of one-on-one football, with four wingers racing opposition defenders at both ends of the pitch.
The visitors managed to score two goals, the first from a freekick header by Dayot Upamecano in the 65th minute and the other from Luis Díaz in the 68th, as the Colombian balanced a perfect long-range pass into the slot from close range from Kane.
Although no further goals were scored in the final 25 minutes, both teams came close and thrilled those lucky enough to see the action in real time.
“This game had everything,” Henry said at the end of the match. “Honestly… it should have been the Champions League final. Because at the moment, these are the most exciting teams in Europe.”
‘We dream of such matches’
Players and coaches from both teams agreed with Henry, with player of the match Dembele saying it was an “incredible match”.
After the match he said, “Two great teams in attack, who don’t question themselves – it’s a Champions League semi-final, we know Bayern is a great team, so are we.”
PSG’s Luis Enrique was tired of watching it from the sidelines.
“I am very tired and I haven’t even run a kilometre,” he said. “So I don’t know how the players are feeling.”
French team defender Marquinhos told Canal+ he was “living the dream” in the thriller.
He said, “I am sure all football lovers would have enjoyed watching the match.”
“On the pitch, it was really a pleasure to play in this match. We dream of matches like this all year long as children… These are two teams with the mentality of never giving up, always moving forward, always moving forward.”
For Bayern’s leading goalscorer of the season, Kane, it was a match between two top-rated football teams.
“You saw two high level teams in offensive play and turnovers,” Kane told Prime.
“We fought and we competed and we’re back in the tie… We’re going into the Allianz with nothing to lose, we’re at our best when we’re intense and physical. It’ll be whoever takes their moments next week, with the crowd behind us, we hope it can push us over the line.”
The second leg of the semi-finals will be played in Munich on Wednesday, with the team leading on aggregate score at the end of the match qualifying for the Marie 30 final in Hungary.
