The poster made the whole of Europe salivate. From the aisles of the Parc des Princes to the streets of Munich and the Parisian bars, all football lovers were impatiently awaiting this clash. This Tuesday evening, during the semi-final first leg of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain, defending champion, hosted Bayern Munich, already German champions. And what can we say, except that this summit meeting between the two main contenders for final victory kept all its promises. Total football, tactical warfare, intensity, goals, galore of chances, sensational individuals and ultimately the best match of this 2025-2026 season. Not to say, the most spectacular of the recent era of the Champions League.
Sparkling Kvara, Dembélé diesel style
So yes, when it comes time to show up at the Allianz Arena in a week’s time, PSG will be favored by the forecasts with this small goal lead acquired this evening, at the end of a completely crazy match where the two behemoths of European football will have alternated brilliance and defensive errors. A victory (5-4) which will nevertheless bear the seal of two men: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé. Aligned on the front of the 4-3-3 attack designed by Luis Enrique, the Georgian and the Frenchman shone in a match where Désiré Doué – certainly the author of two assists – was less inspired. For the Ballon d’Or, however, everything was not simple, like its very messy first 45 minutes. In a position of false number 9, the native of Vernon – who now holds the record for the greatest number of goal participations in the knockout phase for PSG in the history of the Champions League (11 goals, 7 assists) – had the opportunities to start his own.
Symbol of his clumsiness? This face to face totally failed against Manuel Neuer while his team was chasing the score (23rd). But the darling of the Park finally reversed the trend. Always as valuable in his defensive involvement and his vision of the game, Dembouz was logically rewarded for his efforts by obtaining the penalty, following a loose hand from Alphonso Davies, before transforming it without trembling by opening his foot (45+5th). Feeling confident, the international tricolor – who had previously delivered a caviar on Joao Neves’ goal – continued his business after returning from the locker room. In the highlight of PSG, the former Barça even gave his team a three-goal lead by scoring twice after a perfect strike at the near post (58th). Credited with a 7 by the FM editorial team, Dembélé was finally able to enjoy this new XXL performance.
An essential duo
“Now we will go to Munich to win the other match and qualify. We will have to stay focused. Two teams who are going to attack, we are not going to change our philosophy. We’re going to attack, they’re going to attack, it’s going to be a great second match.”announced the main person concerned at the microphone of Canal +. But what can we also say about the performance achieved by his teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (10 goals and 5 goals in 14 C1 matches this season). Named man of the match by our editorial team with a score of 8, the former Napoli player has, once again, proven that he remains a player cut out for big nights. Quickly in sight in this shock, the 25-year-old winger did a lot of damage to the Bavarian defense by multiplying his sharp attacks. Never stingy with effort and omnipresent in counter-pressing, the Parisian number 7 will have especially awakened his teammates by equalizing with a sublime curling shot (24th) before also signing a double by receiving a cross from Achraf Hakimi (56th).
Replaced by Mayulu at the end of the match and still acclaimed by the Parc des Princes (84th), Kvaratskhelia – who seemed diminished a few minutes before the end of the first act – thus sublimated himself. A recital, a new one, which therefore allows PSG to take a small option in the final before going to Germany next week. “Of course there are things to improve but for now we have to enjoy. It was very complicated and it will be the same for the return match.warned Luis Enrique at the final whistle. Aware of the mission that awaits his players in Bavaria, the Spanish technician can, despite everything, rely on his two offensive phenomena because if one is the current Ballon d’Or, the other also has all the qualities to one day win the most precious of individual awards. And we need, at least, that to defeat this Bavarian machine, which only fell for the third time this season this Tuesday evening…
