PSG 5-4 Bayern Munich: Kane, Rooney, Carragher and Henry Divided Over Nine-Goal Champions League Semi-Final Classic

Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday has been confirmed as the first European semi-final in history in which both teams scored four or more goals — a nine-goal spectacle that immediately divided expert opinion.

Harry Kane, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 17th minute, offered a defence of the players involved when speaking to Amazon Prime after the final whistle. “Even though there was nine goals scored, there was some amazing defending out there,” the Bayern Munich striker said. “You’ve got the best players in the world. The best attackers, the best defenders. Of course, sometimes the attackers are going to come out on top and show their quality. When you go back and look at the centre-halves playing in midfield, in attack sometimes, out wide against the wingers, credit to them. It’s a really hard job. I thought they were outstanding.”

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany echoed that sentiment, questioning those critical of the goal tally and broadly agreeing that the defending had been of a reasonable standard. Wayne Rooney, however, was unconvinced. Speaking on Amazon Prime, the former England captain pushed back directly on Kane’s assessment. “I love Harry Kane. Everyone can see that on the words I say about him. But, there’s no way he can be praising his defenders,” Rooney said. “Maybe because they are his team-mates. He’s trying to give them a bit of confidence for next week. The defending from both teams was really bad. If he’s being honest.”

Rooney identified a breakdown in defensive communication as a structural issue, drawing on historical comparisons to make his point. “You don’t hear defenders communicating anymore. You used to hear Jamie Carragher screaming at his defenders for Liverpool. It used to annoy me, but it got his full-backs back in. You don’t get that level of communication now. That’s as a result of the coaching,” he said. He also directed some criticism at PSG head coach Luis Enrique for not adopting a more conservative approach once the hosts led 5-2, calling the second-half collapse “immature defending, which is crazy.”

Carragher himself, speaking to CBS Sports, took a more measured position. The former Liverpool and England defender acknowledged that his instinct would typically be to criticise the defensive performance in a match with such a scoreline, but argued the circumstances were exceptional. “Every attacking player on the pitch was an eight or nine out of 10. Every attacking player got the better of their counterpart,” he said. “When I remember the goals, it wasn’t like there was a goalkeeper howler or something stupid defensively, it felt like the goals were just great goals. It wasn’t like defenders made a fool of themselves. The attacking play was that high it was almost impossible to stop the goals.”

Thierry Henry, also reacting on CBS Sports, framed the result as a welcome antidote to broader criticism of modern football. “We’ve been talking a lot about teams who don’t take enough risks. We talk about teams not losing the game rather than winning it. Tonight we had plenty of risk,” Henry said. “People have been complaining football is boring. That game was not boring. It was just crazy at times.”

The match unfolded in dramatic fashion throughout. After Kane’s early penalty, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia levelled for PSG with a stunning finish in the 24th minute before Joao Neves headed the hosts in front from a corner in the 33rd. Michael Olise equalised for Bayern in the 41st minute, only for Ousmane Dembele to restore PSG’s lead from the spot just before half-time. Kvaratskhelia swept home his second of the night in the 56th minute, with Dembele adding a third for PSG two minutes later. Dayot Upamecano pulled one back with a glancing header in the 65th minute before a Leroy Sane goal, initially ruled out for offside, was awarded following a VAR review in the 68th minute to make it 5-4.

The result carries significant statistical weight beyond the scoreline. PSG have now scored 43 Champions League goals this season, with Bayern close behind on 42 — both clubs having surpassed 40 goals in the competition during the current campaign. The second leg will be decisive in determining which side advances to the final, with Bayern required to overturn a one-goal deficit.