24 hours before the match, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique raised his arm to emphasize the class of the team - the reigning Champions League champion last season - and affirmed that PSG is the best club in the world.
On the opposite side, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany did not make a similar statement, but perhaps he does not need to do so either. His team is aiming for a treble and has only lost 2 matches since the beginning of the season.
Before the match started, experts all predicted that this would be a top-level confrontation. However, few people expected that the match would become one of the most dramatic and tense matches recently, comparable to the classic clash between Manchester United and Real Madrid in 2003. Ending the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final at Parc des Princes, PSG won a thrilling 5-4 victory over Bayern.
Bayern opened the score after Harry Kane successfully converted a penalty brought in by Luis Diaz. Not long after, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia equalized with a technical move that completely defeated Josip Stanisic.
Besides the above individuals, players such as Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele also continuously created breakthrough moments. However, what makes a strong impression is not only the technique, but also the extraordinary intensity of the competition and the non-stop spirit of both teams.
The match took place at a breathtaking pace but still maintained accuracy and organization. There were not many "moments of silence" commonly seen in football, every situation was performed at a high pace but still tightly controlled. Top players continuously handled the ball at a speed that normal people could hardly keep up with, and maintained that for more than 90 minutes.
However, this was not a perfect match. Jamal Musiala could have done better in the situation leading to Joao Neves' goal. The defense of both teams also revealed many loopholes, especially in the situations leading to Kvaratskhelia's goal or Diaz's final goal. Marquinhos could also handle better in the offside trap situation.
We have had many times appearing in front of PSG's goal, but what needs to be improved is the way we organize defense when we lose the ball. In many situations, we did not do well and let the opponent counter-attack too easily" - Kompany shared.
However, most mistakes are only exposed by individual outstanding moments. At the level of the Champions League semi-finals, absolute perfection is rare. And in a sport with few goals like football, every mistake has a price to pay.
It is also necessary to be fair to Enrique when PSG's 5-2 advantage was narrowed to 5-4. He intended to control the match by strengthening the midfield, but Bayern's 2 consecutive goals came too quickly, making all adjustments impossible. Moreover, his philosophy was not aimed at a safe playing style.
Meanwhile, Bayern under Kompany is still loyal to the attacking style, regardless of the score. That is the identity and also the factor that helps them maintain pressure until the last minutes.
A noteworthy statistic: if penalty kicks are eliminated, PSG scores 4 goals with an expected goal score (xG) of only 1.12, while Bayern has 3 goals from xG 1.73. In total, the two teams only launched 22 shots - a fairly low number compared to a match with up to 9 goals.
That shows the class of top teams. They can turn difficult opportunities into goals. It is a combination of individual talent and open attacking philosophy that the two coaches bring.
I'm too tired after the match, and I haven't even run a kilometer. I don't know how the players on the field will feel" - Enrique shared.
