The UEFA Champions League 1st leg of the semi-finals took place this past week. Both matches (PSG vs. Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal) produced two different matches. The former was a magical and exciting evening while the latter was the polar opposite. It was filled with controversy.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will take a narrow lead to Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena after the two teams played out a nine-goal classic in the French capital that will go down in Champions League folklore.
Both near-perennial domestic champions, Bayern and PSG have been among the favourites to lift the trophy since the league phase began and after 90 minutes of mouthwatering action, we are no nearer to knowing who will face either Arsenal or Atlético Madrid in Budapest on 30 May.
It was the highest scoring semi-final since Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers 6-3 in the 1959-60 European Cup - and will live long in the memory.
In a campaign where set-pieces have become king, defensive interventions are celebrated like goals and the long throw-in has made a comeback; this was a refreshing reminder that simply scoring more goals than your opponent can be the key to success.
Bayern opened the scoring in a breathless first half but defending European champions PSG came back in thrilling style to gain a three-goal advantage at 5-2 and surely put one foot in the showpiece.
The German champions showed their tenacity and talent to reduce the deficit to one and ensure they remain in the tie for next week's return leg in Munich.
As pundits and fans celebrated an extraordinary advert for the game, PSG boss, Luis Enrique, enjoyed it too. "It was amazing. I think it was the best match I have ever managed as a coach," he said.
"It had amazing rhythm, trying to play offensive football, trying to show their quality. I think everybody had fun watching the match. I'm happy because we won."
The tone was set for a dazzling European encounter when both sets of fans unfurled giant tifos before kick-off - PSG's was emblazoned with the words 'the conquest of Europe', while the visitors' banner urged their side to 'give everything'.
In a chaotic opening 45 minutes at the Parc des Princes, both sides did just that. It was fitting the two top-scoring sides in the Champions League this season put five goals on the scoreboard in a mesmerising, end-to-end opening period.
Harry Kane's penalty was cancelled out by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's clinical finish, before Joao Neves' glancing header and Michael Olise's moment of individual brilliance left the sides level.
Many will suggest the PSG penalty, awarded after Bayern defender, Alphonso Davies, was deemed to have handled an Ousmane Dembele cross in the box, was harsh. Dembele calmly converted to give PSG a 3-2 lead at the break.
The controversial incident was ultimately overshadowed by what pundits called one of the greatest halves of football they had ever witnessed.
Former England captain, Alan Shearer, said on Amazon Prime: "I can't stop smiling at how open and bonkers this game is. It's one of the greatest games I've ever been to. Two teams that believe in their own ability to outscore their opponent."
The chaos continued after the break with PSG building a three-goal cushion, again through Kvaratskhelia and Dembele; leaving some to wonder if the outcome had been settled.
Bayern were unwilling to let the chance of a first Champions League title since 2020 get away from them as they fought back in fearsome fashion. Goals from Dayot Upamecano and Diaz were met with stunned silence from the home fans and no further response from the PSG players as the hosts finished with a slim advantage.
"I have been managing for more than 15 years, and I have to say it was the most exciting [match]," added Luis Enrique. "It is important to show that that is the way to try to play football. OK, we are not happy as a coach when you concede four goals, but I'm happy because we won."
Harry Kane scored his 54th goal of the season for Bayern Munich tonight. The England striker has been speaking to the TV cameras after the match. This is what he had to say:
"We will have to watch it back to really digest what happened. But overall, the fact that we were 5-2 down and found a way to claw it back to 5-4 ⊠I am really proud of the boys."
On Bayernâs comeback: "It shows the character of our team. It has happened to us this season where we have come back from being down, and it is good to know we can do it at the highest level as well ⊠I think we come away knowing we can hurt them."
On the PSG penalty: "I am pretty sure the rule is if it hits the body first and then the hand, it is not handball ⊠it is a harsh one when it comes off the body. I donât know where you are supposed to put your arms."
On Vincent Kompanyâs absence from the touchline this evening: "Of course, we would miss him and his presence on the sideline, but credit to the guys for stepping in. It will be good to have him back next week at home; heâs the kind of coach who wants to be there with his players."
Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane offered completely different takes following PSGâs 5â4 win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.
Luis Enrique and Vincent Kompanyâs sides put on a nine-goal thriller in the French capital, with attackers such as Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the dazzling Michael Olise capturing the headlines.
After the match, Kane surprised some viewers by praising the Bavariansâ defence despite them shipping five goals. "Even though there were nine goals scored today, I think there was amazing defending throughout the game in the 1v1 battles," he told Amazon Prime.
While both attacks were heavily praised, the same canât be said for either teamâs defence; with the backlines run ragged by the talent on show from both sides.
After the match, Kane surprised some viewers by praising the Bavariansâ defence despite them shipping five goals. "Even though there were nine goals scored today, I think there was amazing defending throughout the game in the 1v1 battles," he told Amazon Prime.
"Look, you have got the best players in the world going at it â the best attackers, the best defenders. Of course, sometimes the attackers are going to come out on top and show their quality, like both teams did today."
"When you go back and actually look at the centre-halves playing in midfield, playing in attack sometimes, playing out wide against the wingers, credit to them because itâs a really hard job, and I thought they were outstanding today."
Bayern head coach Kompany also offered a refreshing take when asked about his sideâs defensive performance. He said: "What do you want? I think youâve seen a lot of good, intense defending today â itâs just the margins are so, so small, and you only have two ways."
However, Rooney appeared to disagree with both Kane and the Bayern bossâ take, with the Liverpudlian claiming the forward was defending his team-mates.
"Listen, I love Harry Kane, but thereâs no way he can be praising his defenders," Rooney said. "Maybe because they are his team-mates, he is trying to give them a bit of confidence for next week."
"I think the dfending from both teams tonight was really bad, so I think heâs being a bit modest there."
Player of the match, Ousmane Dembele, has been giving his reaction to tonightâs incredible game in Paris. This is what he told Canal+:
"It was two teams that seek to attack that donât question themselves. Itâs the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. We know Bayern are a top team, and us too. Weâre happy with the result, despite being up 5-2."
On PSG switching off after being 5-2 ahead: "We stopped playing a little by the end. Bayern are a top team. It was an incredible game, and now weâll go to Munich, hoping to get the win in order to qualify for the final."
On the second leg next week: "Weâre two sides that want to attack. We wonât change our philosophy. We want to attack and so do they, so I think a great game is in the offing."
The match was thoroughly entertaining for the neutral; however, both Clarence Seedorf and Wayne Rooney were critical of both sides post-match on Amazon Prime.
The former Manchester United star said: "Both teams have got so much quality at the top end of the pitch that they probably forget to defend a little bit, and that means we get to enjoy some great goals."
"Luis Enrique is a top coach, so when they get the advantage of 5-2, he should have said, 'Right, letâs shut up shop and get behind the ball and make it hard. See the tie-out'. And then that is potentially us through to the final."
"But they didn't; they went for more goals. Vincent Kompany, heâs obviously got a very attack-minded team. I think you can clearly see they havenât worked much on defending. Some of the goals are schoolboy goals."
"At this level weâve seen some brilliance, but we saw some immature defending, which is crazy. Iâd love to play in a game like that but I used to pride myself on defending as well, so I think Iâd be upset if we conceded that many goals."
"Overall, going into the game next week, Iâd be much happier being Bayern Munich. To leave here, with only a goal [down], knowing that you can score goals against PSG, I think the advantage is with them."
The stats behind this historic Champions League SF
- The nine goals scored today are tied for the second most in a Champions League knockout stage match; the only previous knockout stage match with more goals also involved Bayern Munich in their 8-2 win over Barcelona in the 2020 quarterfinals
- PSG scored with all five of their shots on target against Bayern Munich. Itâs the first time on record (since 2003-04) a team has had 5+ shots on target and scored them all in a Champions League knockout stage match
- This is the first time that PSG have conceded 4+ goals in a home Champions League match
- It was the first time in any major European semi-final that both sides had scored at least four goals, and just the second time in a Champions League knockout match after Chelsea and Liverpool drew 4-4 in the 2008-09 quarter-final.
- With PSG netting 43 goals and Bayern 42, it was also the first time two teams have each scored more than 40 times in a Champions League campaign
Meanwhile in Madrid and after Tuesday's all-time Champions League classic between PSG and Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Atlético Madrid served up a tactical tussle in the first leg of their semi-final tie that was decided by two penalties.
Viktor Gyökeres and Julian Ălvarez both made no mistake from the spot but it was the controversial decision to overturn a third penalty awarded for a challenge from DĂĄvid Hancko on Eberechi Eze that will have fans talking.
Arsenal will return to the Emirates Stadium next week with a creditable 1-1 draw from their first leg at Atletico Madrid - but that does not tell even half the story.
The match was a tale of three penalties. One was scored by Arsenal; one was scored by Atletico Madrid - and one, most controversially, was awarded to, but then taken away from, the Gunners.
Viktor Gyökeres put the Premier League side in front before half-time, scoring from the spot after being bundled over in the box. Julian Alvarez then equalised with a penalty after a debatable handball decision given against Ben White.
The big talking point was the final penalty incident. Referee, Danny Makkelie, initially pointed to the spot when David Hancko caught Eberechi Eze. Then the video assistant referee (VAR) sent Makkelie to the monitor. The decision was subsequently overturned. It left Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, "incredibly fuming."
"There is no clear and obvious error," Arteta said. "And this changes the course of the game. And at this level, I'm sorry but this cannot happen."
When asked whether he had been given an explanation for the decision, he added: "No. A very clear explanation of the decision and what happens for a period of time, a referee has to watch it 13 times, what's more clear than that? It's impossible and we are all fuming about it."
Arsenal will rue their overturned penalty against Atletico. Only last month, we saw a different decision in very similar circumstances.
In the first leg of their last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners were awarded a late penalty when Noni Madueke went down in the area under a challenge from Malik Tillman.
Contact on the England international was slight, with Tillman landing on the forward's boot as he fell to the ground.
BBC Sport discussed this very incident with a senior figure in UEFA's refereeing body. They explained that while they would prefer no penalty was awarded on the field, the contact left the VAR with nowhere to go.
Soft? Absolutely. A clear and obvious error? Based on what UEFA said about the Madueke incident, the decision should remain with the on-field call. The Premier League follows the same logic in these situations. The decision might seem soft,but there's no reason to go against the referee's decision.
If you are saying that the Madueke decision should stay as a penalty kick, then the same should apply to Eze. Indeed, the Eze decision wouldn't have been overturned if it were a Premier League game.
We've had two nights of handball controversy, first involving Bayern Munich and now Arsenal.
In both cases, the ball took a deflection off the body before hitting the arm and fans have been conditioned into thinking this means there can't be a penalty.
What referees actually look for is a clear change of trajectory. Why is that? Because it means the arm position would not create a barrier to the natural direction of the ball.
If the ball stays on roughly its intended path, then the ball touching the arm takes precedent. The penalty given against Alphonso Davies on Tuesday wouldn't have been awarded in the Premier League as the arm was too close to the body.
For UEFA, the fact that the arm moves out from the body before the ball hits it would trump the small deflection. Ben White's handball against Atletico was a very clear penalty under UEFA's definition. The arm was a long way out from the body and came in to make contact with the ball.
There is some discretion if the arm is being brought in to make the body smaller but in White's case, it started from so far out, a penalty would be expected.
The Premier League is more relaxed than Europe even when it comes to deflections before a handball. That said, Arsenal defender, Gabriel, should've really conceded a penalty at Newcastle earlier this season as his arm, when sliding, was raised very high and the deflection off the body was negligible.
Would the ball deflecting off White's shin have caused VAR to stay out of this in the Premier League? Possibly, but the movement of the arm was very clear.
A definite spot-kick in Europe, borderline for the Premier League.
On the handball decision, former Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, said referee Makkelie was "influenced" by the similar choice to award PSG a penalty against Bayern Munich.
He told TNT Sports: "I think the referees have been influenced by the decision that happened [in Paris]."
"They have seen the handball committed by Alphonso Davies that led to a penalty and thought we need to follow suit and give this one from Ben White - even if he tries to move his arm out of the way."
Match of the Day pundit and ex-Liverpool left-back, Stephen Warnock, doesn't believe Atletico's penalty for handball would've been awarded in an English domestic game. "I just don't think it gets given in the Premier League," Warnock said.
"His arm is already in that position and I know people might say it is an unnatural position but he's trying to block a shot and then it hits his leg and comes up and hits his arm."
"It's just a bizarre decision but I wouldn't say we are shocked at seeing it given in the Champions League."
On the penalty which was later overturned, Match of the day pundit, Nedum Onuoha, said he "can understand" why VAR would have wanted the referee to take another look. "You could argue that all three penalties, if they were given, were all quite soft," he added.
"And although some people will believe he was always going to overturn it when he went to the screen, we have seen times when referees haven't - but he has decided that is the right decision."
Diego Simeone has questioned the tactical quality of PSGâs nine-goal thriller against Bayern Munich, suggesting that high-scoring spectacles are often a nightmare for managers. The Atletico Madrid boss offered his blunt assessment after seeing his side battle to a tense 1-1 draw against Arsenal in their semi-final first leg.
Simeone used his post-match analysis to contrast the disciplined nature of his side's performance with the chaotic nine-goal thriller between PSG and Bayern Munich a day earlier. The Argentine emphasised that while neutral fans and television audiences enjoy high-scoring spectacles, such results often stem from defensive lapses that coaches find difficult to admire.
Reflecting on the differing tactical approaches in European knockout football, Simeone told Prime Video: "Arsenal are an incredible team, who have won 10 games in the Champions League and drawn three. The first half was more tactical, with few shots on target and some good transitions. In the second half, we raised the tempo and they dropped off. We didn't manage to score another goal, but it was a good game."
"When a game ends 5-4, everyone says 'what a great game'. I say: 'they scored five goals against us!' I don't know if it's such a good game for us coaches, but on TV, of course, it was beautiful."
I was blown away by the Tuesday match. At 5-2, I believed the match was done. I wasn't expecting Bayern to score two quick goals. It's quite clear that it's difficult to determine who the eventual victor will be.
To be honest, I wasn't really surprised by the Atlético Madrid/Arsenal match. Both tend to focus more on the defence and will attack when the opportunity arises.
I find it humourous when managers complain about a decision that didn't go their way but go silent when they get it in their favour.