Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain of France defeated Bayern Munich of Germany, moving a step closer to back-to-back UEFA Champions League (UCL) titles.
PSG beat Munich 5-4 at home in the first leg of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League semifinals, held at Parc des Princes in Paris on Tuesday (local time). Ousmane Dembele scored two goals and added one assist, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted twice to secure the win in a high-scoring contest.
Lee Kang-in of PSG and Kim Min-jae of Munich were both named as substitutes but remained on the bench, meaning the "Korean Derby" did not materialize.
PSG, which is aiming for back-to-back titles, can reach the final with even a draw in the second leg, which will be played at Munich's home ground on May 7.
PSG also snapped a five-game losing streak against Munich in the UCL, which had continued since their 3-2 win in the first leg of the 2020-2021 quarterfinals.
The two players last met in Round 4 of the league phase of this tournament, held at the same venue in November 2025 (a 2-1 Munich win), when Lee entered the match in the 25th minute of the first half and Kim in the 36th minute of the second half. Although they reunited five months later, a head-to-head matchup on the pitch did not take place.
The match unfolded as a back-and-forth affair from the start. Munich opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a penalty kick by Harry Kane, but PSG equalized in the 24th minute when Kvaratskhelia received a through pass from Desire Doue, beat a defender with individual skill on the left side of the penalty area, and fired a right-footed shot into the net.
In the 33rd minute, Joao Neves turned in a header from the left side of the goal area, redirecting a corner kick delivered by Dembele from the left flank to give PSG the lead.
Munich responded in the 41st minute, when Michael Olise received a pass from Aleksandar Pavlovic, drove into the center of the penalty area, and fired a left-footed shot to level the score.
But in stoppage time, PSG was awarded a penalty kick after a handball by Munich defender Alphonso Davies, and Dembele converted with his right foot to restore the lead at 3-2 going into halftime.
PSG widened the gap in the 11th minute of the second half with another goal from Kvaratskhelia. Achraf Hakimi broke down the right side of the defense, carried the ball into the penalty area, and delivered a low cross to the center, where an onrushing Kvaratskhelia struck a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area.
Two minutes later, Dembele received a pass from Doue and fired a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area to score his side's fifth goal.
Munich pulled one back in the 20th minute of the second half when Dayot Upamecano flicked a header from a Joshua Kimmich free kick.
Three minutes later, Luis Diaz received a through pass from Kane and curled in a right-footed shot to bring Munich within one goal.
PSG then effectively fended off Munich's counterattacks to hold on for a 5-4 victory.
