Paris Saint-Germain scraped past Bayern Munich 5-4 in a Champions League semi-final that will live long in the memory of everyone who watched it. The match produced nine goals, a record for a semi-final at this level, as both sides threw caution to the wind and attacked relentlessly from start to finish.
Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele each scored twice in the madcap encounter. PSG's willingness to leave their defence exposed proved the difference in the end, though Bayern pushed them to the absolute limit and came close to snatching a winner.
The German side had chances to win it late on but could not find the final touch when it mattered most. PSG's attacking prowess ultimately proved too much, even though their backline looked vulnerable throughout. The French champions will now face the winner of the other semi-final in the final.
This was not a match for the purist. It was chaotic, breathless football where both teams seemed more interested in scoring than defending. Bayern came to Paris expecting a chess match and left having played a game of pinball instead. PSG's forwards ran riot, and when Bayern tried to match them, the spaces opened up at the back.
The nine goals set a new record for a Champions League semi-final. Previous semi-finals had produced fewer goals across two legs. This single match generated a season's worth of drama in ninety minutes. Fans of defensive football would have hated it. Fans of attacking football got everything they wanted and then some.
Neither team will want to play like this again, but both will be relieved to have come away with the result they did. PSG advance to the final as the team that scored more goals. Bayern go home knowing they created enough chances to win but could not be clinical enough when they needed to be.
PSG will prepare for the final with confidence running high. Bayern will spend the off-season wondering what might have been if their finishing had been sharper.
