UEFA Champions League, Semi-finals, 6/5/26
PSG secured their place in a second UEFA Champions League final in as many years with a 6-4 aggregate victory against Bayern Munich. Ousmane Dembélé was the decisive factor on the night in a 1-1 win for the competition’s holders with his first-half goal. Harry Kane equalised late on, but it would be nothing more than a consolation.
The match
Les Parisiens held the advantage ahead of the game, and it didn’t take them long to double it. Inside two minutes, A first-time pass from Fabián Ruiz allowed Kvaratskhelia to burst into space and make his way into the area. The Georgian international delivered a pinpoint cross towards Dembélé, who fired the ball home to double his side’s aggregate lead.
After some pressure from Bayern, where Vitinha was called into action to dispossess Musiala in a dangerous position, Kvaratskhelia countered quickly and beat Upamecano to find his way to the byline. However, the Frenchman recovered well to block his effort wide for a corner.
Deputising for Hakimi, Warren Zaïre-Emery struggled up against the quick feet of Luis Diaz. This tussle saw the former Liverpool forward leave the French international midfielder stranded before flashing a shot across goal, failing to test Safonov. Olise did well to cut inside against Nuno Mendes and unleashed an effort, but he failed to keep it on target.
Bayern fans and players alike were calling for a penalty after Vitinha blasted a ball against João Neves’ arm, but the referee believed otherwise. VAR didn’t intervene in what looked like a typical penalty in the UEFA Champions League. João Neves made a late great run from a set piece to steal a march and head goalwards, but Manuel Neuer produced a magnificent save to keep his side in the tie.
Musiala had Bayern’s first shot on target toward the end of the first half after escaping his marker and finding himself in space. The German attacking midfielder drilled a low effort towards the bottom corner, forcing Safonov into a good save. Jonathan Tah went agonisingly close to levelling the match with a free header from a corner, yet he couldn’t hit the target. PSG held the advantage at the break.
Désiré Doué had the first shot in anger of the second half. After he was forced away from goal, the Frenchman did well to get his effort away, but it was straight at Neuer. Seconds later, Kvaratskhelia fired goalwards, forcing Neuer to save with his feet. As the Bundesliga champions searched for an equaliser, Stanisic had a shot from distance, which failed to cause Safonov any issues.
Doué continued his promising start to the second half with a terrific run forward before unleashing an early effort which almost caught out the Bayern stopper, but he produced a terrific save. Alphonso Davies picked out Luis Diaz with a low cross, but the Colombian international could only direct his shot straight at the PSG stopper.
Kvaratskhelia showed great feet to beat his man before feeding Doué, who managed to find the side netting with his effort on goal. After creating some space for the shot, the former Rennes attacking midfielder was threatening again as his long-range effort whistled past the post with Neuer left stranded. In the final ten minutes, Les Parisiens looked the most likely to score the second goal of the match as Kvaratskhelia bore down on goal, but Kim Min Jae produced a vital challenge to stop him in his tracks.
After a powerful effort from Konrad Laimer, Bayern were claiming for another penalty, which was waved away by the referee. As PSG countered, Barcola went close to doubling the lead of the competition’s holders but Neuer was well-positioned to deny him. Harry Kane found the back of the net in the dying embers of the match, but his goal would only be a consolation as Les Parisiens secured their place in back-to-back finals.
Matvei Safonov – 5
Warren Zaïre-Emery – 4
Marquinhos – 5
William Pacho – 5
Nuno Mendes – 4
Fabián Ruiz – 7
Absent from the first leg, the Spanish international midfielder certainly made his presence felt in the second leg. He added an element of control to the PSG midfield, showing great skill to get out of tight spaces and awareness to slow the play down. His first-time pass into Kvaratskhelia before the first goal is a ball any midfielder would be proud of.
Vitinha – 6
João Neves – 6
Désiré Doué – 7
Ousmane Dembélé – 6
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 7
For the second week running, the former Napoli attacker was once again Les Parisiens’ most dangerous and effective force in the final third. The 27-year-old offered a continued threat down the left flank and did brilliantly to create Dembélé’s opener. Following another assist, he becomes the first player ever to score or assist in 7 consecutive UEFA Champions League knockout matches.
