After the Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, if one were to ask about the last time nine goals were scored in the first leg of the semi-final, one would have difficulty with the answer.
That’s because it’s never happened before.
The opening 45 minutes in Paris were all it took for the match to live up to its ‘biggest clash of the season’ label, with four second-half goals further cementing its place as a Champions League classic.
Although both teams operate in a hyperactive front-foot system, their styles are accentuated by the range of attacking talents at their disposal who have provided moments of individual brilliance. From Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise on the wings to Ousmane Dembele and Harry Kane in front of goal, both teams have players more than capable of carrying the weight of a match on their shoulders.
But this freshness and energy come as no surprise, especially for the French giant. PSG’s reigning Ballon d’Or winner Dembele and Kvaratskhelia have started just nine and 16 games respectively out of 31 league games this season.
The duo scored four of PSG’s five goals in the first leg.
While injuries have played a role during their absence from the squad, easier opponents and curious schedule adjustments in France have allowed manager Luis Enrique to be liberal with his team selection.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is at the other end of the pack, suggested Premier League teams are far from as fresh as their French and German counterparts.
«To deliver that much quality you have to be very fresh, and the difference in the leagues and the way they compete is night and day. You just have to see a lot of statistics around it. We are comparing two different worlds,» the Arsenal boss said.
However, the Parisians are likely to sorely miss the presence of the speedy Achraf Hakimi on the wings after the Moroccan full-back played the full 90 minutes last week before being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Spaniard Fabian Ruiz, who is returning from injury, appears to be the leading candidate to take his place in the team, with Warren Zaire-Emery or Joao Neves likely to take over at right-back.
Meanwhile, Bayern will be boosted by having its manager, Vincent Kompany, back on the sidelines in Munich after he was suspended and forced to watch the first leg from the stands, an experience he called «torture».
For both clubs, winning their respective league titles has been virtually a formality over the past fifteen years, and their great success makes them seem like they are falling short as they falter in Europe.
Four of Bayern’s six Champions League titles have come before 2010, while PSG only lifted the trophy for the first time last year. But despite their patchy record in the continental showpiece, both teams will be driven by the chance to make history.
If PSG manages to become champions, they will become only the second team after Real Madrid to defend the Champions League in the modern era.
On the other hand, Bayern, who have already won the competition and reached the final of the German Cup, a potential European final offers the opportunity to become the first team to complete the coveted treble three times.
Predicted XIs
Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer (gk), Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz, Michael Olise, Harry Kane.
Paris Saint Germain: Matvey Sofanov (gk), Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Warren Zaire-Emery, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele.
Where to watch Bayern Munich and PSG Champions League semi-final LIVE in India?
The match will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network in India. It will also be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website.
Published on May 6, 2026
