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PSG's Joao Neves, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
By The Canadian Press

Goals galore as PSG beats Bayern Munich 5-4 in wild Champions League semifinal 1st leg

Apr 28, 2026 | 3:04 PM

PARIS (AP) — Titleholder Paris Saint-Germain held on for a pulsating 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in a roller-coaster Champions League semifinal first leg on Tuesday.

The highest scoring semifinal match in Champions League history saw PSG leading 5-2 early in the second half thanks to two goals each from flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé at Parc des Princes.

“Two great teams who attack and don’t question themselves,” Dembélé said. “We know Bayern is a big team but so are we. At 5-2 we stopped playing a bit. It was an incredible match, but now we go to Munich to qualify. We won’t change our way of playing and it will be two teams who attack.”

Bayern fought back brilliantly.

Defender Dayot Upamecano’s header midway through the second half from Joshua Kimmich’s free kick gave Bayern hope and Luis Díaz’s stinging strike made it a one-goal deficit heading into next Wednesday’s return leg in Munich.

“I think all football lovers enjoyed it. It was real pleasure to play in. You dream about it is a kid,” PSG defender Marquinhos said. “It was a great match and it will be the same over there.”

Harry Kane’s penalty gave Bayern the lead in the 17th minute and Kvaratskhelia equalized soon after for PSG. Midfielder João Neves — who is 5-foot-7 — then headed PSG ahead from a corner.

A dramatic first half saw Michael Olise equalize for Bayern after bursting into the area before Swiss referee Sandro Schärer awarded a penalty for PSG when a video review spotted a handball from Canada defender Alphonso Davies.

PSG’s penalty was contested by Bayern’s players. Davies turned his body to Dembélé’s right-wing cross but the ball bounced off his hip and hit his arm. Although Davies was turning away from play he failed to keep his hands behind his back.

Dembélé fired the penalty past Manuel Neuer — who guessed the right way — to send PSG ahead 3-2 at the break.

Bayern started well.

Moments after Marquinhos was shown a yellow card for stopping Díaz in his tracks, the left winger earned a penalty when he was fouled by Willian Pacho, and from the spot Kane beat goalkeeper Matvey Safonov for his 54th goal of another prolific season.

Safonov made a good save moments later from Olise, then Dembélé missed a one-on-one.

PSG equalized in the 24th when Désiré Doué’s pass found Kvaratskhelia on the left and the Georgia star cut inside before curling the ball into the bottom right corner for his 10th goal of the competition.

Dembélé and Doué missed further first half-chances from counterattacks which exposed Bayern’s tactic of playing with a perilously high defensive line.

But at the end, PSG was struggling and Pacho headed Kimmich’s looping header off the line with seconds remaining in stoppage time.

Spanish side Atletico Madrid hosts London club Arsenal on Wednesday in the other semifinal first leg.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press





by The Canadian Press