Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate after the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris, Tuesday, April 28. AP-Yonhap
The defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have defeated the German giants Bayern Munich in the opening leg of the semifinals at the UEFA Champions League, with the potential Korean derby featuring two national team stars not coming to fruition.
PSG prevailed 5-4 in the goalfest at Parc des Princes in Paris on Tuesday (local time), as PSG midfielder Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae both watched from the bench.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele each grabbed a brace for the winning side, while Joao Neves had the other goal. Four players had a goal apiece for the losing team, including their top scorer, Harry Kane.
The return leg will be at Allianz Arena in Munich at 9 p.m. next Tuesday (local time), or 4 a.m. next Wednesday (South Korea time).
After winning their first-ever UEFA Champions League title last year, PSG are trying to become the first repeat champions since Real Madrid captured three consecutive titles from 2016 to 2018.
Bayern Munich are chasing their seventh Champions League crown and their first since 2020.
These two clubs previously met during the league phase of this year's competition in November last year in Paris, where Lee and Kim were both subbed in as Bayern came away with a 2-1 victory.
In the semifinals, Kane got the ball rolling for the visitors with his 17th-minute penalty before Kvaratskhelia and Neves scored for PSG in the 24th and 33rd minutes, respectively, to put the home team ahead.
Michael Olise equalized for Bayern in the 41st minute, but then Dembele's penalty during stoppage time gave PSG a 3-2 lead entering the break.
Source: Korea Times News
