Luis Enrique expects another high-scoring test for PSG in Munich

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said his side may need to score several times again in next week’s away leg against Bayern Munich to secure a place in another UEFA Champions League final, after PSG edged a dramatic 5-4 win in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday.

The PSG manager said the tie remains finely balanced despite his team taking a one-goal advantage into the return match at the Allianz Arena.

"I just asked my staff how many goals they thought we would need next week and we all think we will need to score at least three", said the Spaniard.

Luis Enrique guided PSG to a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in last season’s final, a result that gave the French club the Champions League title for the first time in its history. The second leg next Wednesday will mark PSG’s first trip back to Bayern’s stadium since that triumph.

Looking ahead to the return fixture, he said Bayern would be stronger at home with their supporters behind them, but added that the visit would also revive positive memories for PSG.

"Bayern will of course be in their stadium and will be even stronger with their fans behind them but going back there will bring back beautiful memories for us. We want to have the same mentality and will go out to try to win the game.", he stated.

Tuesday’s contest at the Parc des Princes became the highest-scoring semi-final in the modern Champions League era. The last European Cup semi-final at this stage to produce as many goals was in 1960, when Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers 6-3 away from home before later losing 7-3 to Real Madrid in the final.

Luis Enrique described the match as an intense encounter from start to finish.

"The intensity of the game throughout was exceptional", he said, adding "We won it and we are very pleased, but at 5-2 we thought we could have had a better result. We desverved to win, but we also deserved to draw and lose!"

End-to-end first leg sets up decisive return

The match featured a frantic first half. Harry Kane put Bayern ahead from the penalty spot early on, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Joao Neves turned the game in PSG’s favour. Michael Olise then levelled for Bayern at 2-2, but Ousmane Dembele restored PSG’s lead with a penalty before the break.

PSG appeared to have taken full control when Kvaratskhelia and Dembele both scored again before the hour mark to make it 5-2. Bayern, however, responded through Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz, reducing the deficit to one goal and ensuring the tie remains open heading into the second leg in Munich.

The result means the semi-final could yet become the highest-scoring two-legged tie in Champions League history. The current record stands at 13 goals, including last season’s semi-final in which Inter defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who watched the game from the stands because of a suspension, praised his team’s response after falling three goals behind.

"I was proud of how we reacted at 5-2. It was incredible how the players fought back", he said. Kompany also described having to watch from the stands as a 'catastrophe'.

Asked about the attacking styles of both teams, Kompany said the game reflected two sides with similar ideas.

"Football is a bit like religion – people believe what they believe, and there is not one style of play that is superior to another", he said, adding "What happened today was a clash of two similar ideas -- normally in these situations you have one team that starts to sit back a bit but neither team wanted to do that and that is why the match was how it was".

Bayern will now try to overturn the deficit as they seek a first Champions League final appearance since 2020. Kompany said he was eager for the return leg.