PSG vs Bayern Munich: Football players, fans react to Champions League semi 

  

A football match that produced five goals in the first half, four more in the second, and delivered the most exhilarating end-to-end action seen in recent years is being hailed as the greatest UEFA Champions League semifinal of all time.

Even before kickoff, the Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich semifinal on Tuesday was predicted to be a goalfest, but experts and fans have been left dumbfounded by the quality of football that bookended those nine goals.  

Football great Thierry Henry termed the game, which ended in a 5-4 win for PSG, “pure cinema” in his post-match analysis on CBS Sports.

“Rest in peace to anyone who missed this game,” the former France talisman said.

“This is football at its absolute peak. Pure cinema. End to end, no breaks, no breathing space… you blink and you miss something.”

  

It took in-form striker Harry Kane 17 minutes to open the scoring in the match as he converted a penalty for Bayern Munich against the titleholders, but the home side equalised seven minutes later, courtesy of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s one-on-one move against Josip Stanisic. The Bayern rightback was left dumbfounded as Kvaratskhelia pulled off a stunning curling shot inside the right post of the German team’s goal.

The scintillating action did not relent as both teams kept pushing for the lead, with Joao Neves heading in from a corner in the 33rd minute, to the delight of the home fans.   

Bayern’s second goal, which made things even eight minutes later, was another one for the highlights reel as Michael Olise made up for an earlier missed opportunity to waltz through the PSG defence and thump the ball into the net.  

“On the other side, Luis Diaz just doesn’t stop running… I don’t think [Achraf] Hakimi caught his breath once. Then Kvara [Kvaratskhelia]… everything he touches looks dangerous.

“[Ousmane] Dembele playing free, doing whatever he wants… it’s ridiculous. And in the middle, Vitinha controlling everything like it’s his own playground.”

There was one more goal left in the first half, when Ballon d’Or winner Dembele converted from the spot to push his team back in front.

The action from the first half alone was enough to convince Bastian Schweinsteiger that he was witnessing the “best Champions League match in years”.