If you needed a reminder of why the Champions League captures the imagination like no other competition in world football, PSG versus Bayern Munich delivered it in spectacular fashion. A staggering 5-4 aggregate result sends the Parisians to the Budapest final, where Arsenal await.
A Match for the Ages
The first leg at Parc des Princes was a rollercoaster of the highest order. PSG surged into a commanding 3-1 lead by half-time, only for Bayern to mount one of their trademark comebacks after the break. Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala dragged the visitors level at 4-4 in a frantic second period, before Bradley Barcola broke Bavarian hearts with a 89th-minute winner.
The second leg, at the Allianz Arena, saw Ousmane Dembélé strike early to effectively end the tie, with Bayern unable to overturn the deficit despite a spirited performance. A 1-1 draw saw PSG through 5-4 on aggregate.
Barcola's Rise
The name on every lip after the tie was Bradley Barcola. The 23-year-old Frenchman's late winner in the first leg was a goal of composure and ruthlessness that belied his age. It has been a remarkable journey for a player who was relatively unknown outside of France just two years ago — now he is a match-winner at the highest level of the club game.
Looking Ahead to Budapest
PSG will enter the final as defending champions and slight favourites, given their experience at this stage of the competition. But Arsenal, lifted by their first final appearance in two decades, will be desperate to upset the odds. May 30 cannot come soon enough.
