In a game with a wide advantage of attacks over defenses, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern 5-4, on the French night of Tuesday (28). The duel for a place in the Champions League final began at a frenetic pace at the Parc des Princes, in Paris, with twists and turns and multiple scoring opportunities.
The net was scored nine times, and several other clear chances were wasted, with errors in the face of the goalkeeper and a ball hitting the post on each side. The German team found themselves at a three-goal disadvantage, but reacted and stayed alive in the match, which will conclude at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, on Wednesday (6) next week.
The rain of goals began in the 17th minute, when Harry Kane took a penalty conceded by Luis Díaz, in the first of an impressive series of clear chances that would last until the final whistle of the second half. Kvaratskhelia equalized for PSG with a good play on the left, in the 24th minute, and João Neves turned in a header, in the 33rd minute, after Dembélé’s corner kick from the left.
The net would still be hit twice more until halftime. At 41, Olise received the ball freely in the central lane, advanced to the edge of the area and equalized the score. Already at 50, in a penalty whistled with the help of the video – the image showed that Davies used his arm to cut off a cross –, Dembélé once again left the French team with an advantage: 3 to 2, don’t lose count.
The home team managed to score a rout. With a shot from Kvaratskhelia, in a move of effective collective construction in the 11th minute of the final stage, and one from Dembélé, in a speed play, it made 5-2. But Bayern reacted quickly: in the 20th minute, Upamecano cleared a free kick from Kimmich; At 23, Luis Díaz scored the most beautiful of the night’s nine goals.
The play started with a precise throw from Harry Kane. Díaz dominated with the outside of his foot and was one-on-one with Marquinhos – who equaled Roberto Carlos as the Brazilian whose parents played in the Champions League, 120. The Colombian eluded the defender and hit Safonov’s left corner.
Attention in the Champions League now turns to Madrid, where Atlético de Madrid will face Arsenal, at 4pm (Brasília time) on Wednesday (29), at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. The teams that survive the semifinals will face each other in a single-game decision scheduled for May 30, at the Puskás Arena, in Budapest.
