Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique lavished praise on both sides after his team secured a narrow 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich in a chaotic Champions League semi-final first leg at the Parc des Princes. The Spaniard described the match as one of the most intense he has ever witnessed, acknowledging the high-risk approach from the German giants after they fell behind.
Speaking to Canal+ after the final whistle, Luis Enrique expressed his admiration for the spectacle. “I’ve never seen a game with that rhythm before. You have to congratulate the opponents, the players," he said. The coach highlighted Bayern's resilience despite the defeat, noting, "You have to recognise this is just the third game they’ve lost all season." His comments underscored the respect between the two European heavyweights after an encounter that featured nine goals.
The match saw PSG race into a commanding lead, only for Bayern to fight back fiercely in the latter stages. Luis Enrique admitted the nature of the game meant the result could have swung either way. “When you hold a 5-2 lead like that, the opponents take so many risks – they’re a top-level side. It was difficult, and the second leg will be too," he explained, already looking ahead to the return fixture in Munich.
Reflecting on the unpredictable ninety minutes, the former Barcelona manager conceded that multiple outcomes would have been fair. “We’re really happy, and I think we deserved to win, but we also deserved a draw, and we would have even deserved to lose, because this game was that incredible," he concluded. This result gives PSG a slender advantage heading into the second leg, but the sheer number of away goals scored by Bayern sets up a finely poised decisive match at the Allianz Arena.
The victory continues PSG's strong form in this season's competition as they seek a first Champions League title. For Bayern Munich, coached by Thomas Tuchel, the defeat is a setback but the four away goals provide a crucial lifeline. The second leg promises another high-stakes encounter, with both teams demonstrating immense attacking firepower and defensive vulnerability in a tie that has already delivered a modern classic.
