Bayern Munich board member Max Eberl struck an optimistic tone despite his side's 5-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. Speaking to Sky Germany after the chaotic match at the Parc des Princes, Eberl praised the spectacle but insisted the tie remains wide open ahead of next week's decisive return leg in Munich.
The high-scoring encounter saw Bayern fall 5-2 behind before late goals from Joshua Kimmich and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave the German champions a crucial lifeline. Eberl highlighted his team's resilience in the face of what he perceived as premature celebrations from the PSG camp. "After the 5–2, the PSG players celebrated as if they were already in the Budapest final. We came back, and now everything is open in the second leg," Eberl said. "The Allianz Arena is a fortress."
Eberl, who oversees sport on the Bayern board, was full of admiration for the quality of the match itself. "That was a magnificent match. I have rarely experienced a game at this level," he remarked. The result leaves Bayern with a narrow deficit to overturn, needing a victory by any scoreline other than 1-0 or 2-1 to advance to the final in Budapest on June 1st.
The context of the defeat is particularly poignant for Bayern, who are concluding a turbulent season domestically. Having already ceded the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, the Champions League represents their only remaining chance for silverware this campaign. The performance in Paris, while defensively flawed, demonstrated the attacking potency that will be required at the Allianz Arena, where Bayern have a strong European pedigree.
For Paris Saint-Germain, the result puts them on the brink of only their second Champions League final, though manager Luis Enrique will be concerned by his team's inability to close out the game from a commanding position. The second leg promises another intense tactical battle, with Bayern needing to leverage their home advantage and the momentum from their late fightback. Eberl's public confidence underscores the belief within the club that progression is still firmly within their grasp.
