Nine-goal thriller — PSG edges Bayern 5-4 in Champions League semi first leg

Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich 5-4 on Tuesday night, leaving the Champions League semifinal finely balanced before next week's return in Germany. (uefa.com) (apnews.com) Harry Kane put Bayern ahead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia equalized in the 24th and João Neves headed PSG in front in the 33rd. Michael Olise made it 2-2 in the 41st before Ousmane Dembele restored PSG's lead in first-half stoppage time. (espn.com) (uefa.com) PSG looked to have broken the tie open after halftime when Kvaratskhelia scored again in the 56th minute and Dembele added his second in the 58th for a 5-2 lead. Bayern then hit back through Dayot Upamecano in the 65th and Luis Díaz in the 68th to cut the deficit to one. (espn.com) (apnews.com) UEFA said the nine-goal total made it the highest-scoring semifinal match in Champions League history. ESPN's match report said it was also the first semifinal in the competition in which the teams combined for more than seven goals. (uefa.com) (espn.com) The result mattered beyond the spectacle because PSG are the defending European champions, while Bayern arrived as newly crowned Bundesliga winners and had not lost since January, according to Yahoo Sports. PSG also handed Bayern their first defeat of 2026. (apnews.com) (sports.yahoo.com) The scoring spree still left the tie open because Bayern erased three goals in 10 minutes and will host the second leg at Allianz Arena. UEFA said the return match is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6. (uefa.com) (apnews.com) For one night in Paris, a semifinal turned into a shootout, and PSG's reward for scoring five times was a lead of only one goal. (uefa.com) (cnn.com)