Paris, FRANCE — In what is already being hailed as the greatest semi-final in the history of the competition, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a narrow 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
The match at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, set a new record for the most goals ever scored in a Champions League semi-final first leg.
Ousmane Dembélé was the central figure of the night, scoring two crucial goals to help the French giants establish their lead. His first came from the penalty spot in the 45th minute, giving PSG a 3-2 lead at the interval. He completed his brace in the 58th minute, beating Manuel Neuer at the near post to make it 5-2.
Okay News reports that while Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (who also scored twice) ran the German defense ragged, Bayern showed incredible resilience to claw back late in the game.
Match Timeline and Goal Scorers
The game opened at a breathless pace, with Harry Kane giving Bayern a deserved lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute. PSG responded through a moment of brilliance from Kvaratskhelia and a header from João Neves to flip the script before the half-hour mark. Michael Olise briefly leveled for the visitors at 2-2 before Dembélé’s first-half penalty shifted the momentum back to the Parisians.
The second half remained frenetic as Kvaratskhelia made it 4-2 in the 56th minute, followed quickly by Dembélé’s second goal just two minutes later. Refusing to surrender, Bayern Munich mounted a late rally with goals from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Díaz in the 65th and 68th minutes respectively, ensuring the tie remains wide open heading into the second leg.
This “football of the demi-gods,” as described by analysts, leaves the tie on a knife-edge with PSG holding a one-goal advantage. Both teams will now prepare for the return leg at the Allianz Arena on May 6, 2026, where the winner will secure a place in the final.
