Football’s role as a leading hot-take commodity was taken to the nth degree after Tuesday’s nine-goal slugfest between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris. Best game ever? What happened to the lost art of defending? Proof that France and Germany’s dominant clubs enjoy the luxury of not being challenged in their domestic leagues so they can keep their powder dry for the latter stages of the Champions League? Proof that the best attackers in Europe are sequestered at PSG and Bayern Munich? All of the above may well be true.
The debate will continue until next Wednesday’s second leg in Munich. Those who said it was the competition’s best ever semi-final – it had the most goals of any 90-minute match in the Champions League last-four – forgot previous contenders. “The best match I have ever coached,” said Luis Enrique. The PSG coach omitted to mention La Remontada of 2017, when his Barcelona team won 6-1 at the Camp Nou to complete the greatest comeback of all. And how about last season’s 7-6 semi-final double-header when Inter edged Barça? Only when the second leg delivers the same excitement can accusations of recency bias be dismissed.
As widely predicted, a 1-1 draw between Atlético Madrid and Arsenal on Wednesday night in Madrid did not match the previous evening for entertainment. Those who value defence over attack got their fill until Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez grew in influence in the second half. Griezmann, as if acknowledging this would be his very last Champions League home game, showed off the class that has many wondering if decamping to MLS is premature. Fans at Orlando City have much to look forward to from one of Europe’s unique talents.
The expected barrage of set pieces did not materialise. Instead, it was a night when penalty kicks and the video assistant referee took centre stage. The award – and rescinding – of what initially seemed a penalty when Dávid Hancko caught Eberechi Eze in the 78th minute had Arsenal supporters raging. “No clear and obvious error [on the initial decision],” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “And this changes the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry but this cannot happen.”
Many pointed to the agitating role Diego Simeone played while the Dutch referee, Danny Makkelie, analysed the footage. “Simeone orchestrates the crowd here, but he also orchestrates the officials,” said the former Arsenal player Martin Keown, admittedly not an undetached pundit, on TNT’s UK broadcast. Simeone meanwhile was not happy with the earlier penalty Arsenal received after Hancko blocked off Viktor Gyökeres. “In Champions League semi-finals, you need a penalty that is truly a penalty,” said Simeone.
It is rare that Arteta is the calmer of the two managers on the sidelines, and nobody comes close to Atléti’s man in black’s perpetual motion. Simeone’s shift of Atlético’s formation at half-time lifted what had previously been a moribund contest. He also involved himself in a post-match exchange with Ben White. There is more than one way to negotiate the Champions League.
Player of the week
It may prove to be the most crucial goal of the nine in Paris. Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz completed the scoring to make it 5-4, and his coolness and perfectly timed run capped off a night when every attacker on the field was at his very best.
They said it
“More. Even more. We’re at home. We’ll have 75,000 people in that stadium. The city will live it for an entire week.” – Speaking to Amazon’s Gabriel Clarke, Vincent Kompany revealed what he wants from his Bayern team next Wednesday. Kompany offered no apologies for his team’s approach; at one point they were 5-2 down. His approach to coaching makes it easy to forget he was one of the finest defenders of his era.
The pundit’s chair
“By definition it can’t be a great game if you’re having that many mistakes on the pitch. It can’t be. I would take the Juventus v Milan European Cup final at Old Trafford 0-0 every day of the week.” – Former Birmingham City player Kenny Cunningham led the defensive puritans. Speaking on Irish channel Premier Sports, he compared Tuesday’s thriller unfavourably to a final widely regarded as the dullest of the Champions League era.
Looking ahead
Achraf Hakimi has claims to be the best attacking full-back in world football but his continues to be an injury-hit season; he struggled for fitness as Morocco failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations. A hamstring injury means Hakimi will miss the second leg, so PSG’s right flank will be manned by Lucas Hernández, who won the Champions League with Bayern when they beat PSG in the 2020 final.
Arsenal’s recent problems are attributed to a lack of verve in attack. Their starting front three of Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke did not create enough danger against Atléti. Gyökeres at least made a pest of himself and took his penalty well. Bukayo Saka was able to play some part, and substitute Eze lifted those around him. The unfortunate Kai Havertz is unlikely to feature on Tuesday. Atléti’s Alvarez was recently linked with Arsenal; he would be an upgrade. Should the Gunners fall short, questions will be raised about the recruitment policy of their sporting director, Andrea Berta, who once held the same role at Atlético.
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