Edi Umoh
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid drew after after a 1-1 score during the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
This was as Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich in the breathless first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Viktor Gyokeres won and scored a penalty just before half-time to give Arsenal a priceless lead. But that lead was cancelled out in the 56th minute when Julian Alvarez hammered his spot kick into the top corner after Ben White was harshly penalised for handball.
Arsenal were awarded a second penalty in the 79th minute but the VAR officials decided there was not enough contact on Eberechi Eze to justify the on-field decision.
Also read: Champions League semi-final draws ready as Arsenal and Bayern reach final four
The winner of this two-legged semi-final will face PSG or Bayern Munich in next month’s final.
Arsenal thought they had a shot at the lead after Eze was brought down by Hancko in the box — no such luck.
Diego Simeone had plenty to say about it while right behind the referee as he made his decision on the review monitor by the side of the pitch.
It would have been a harsh call but they have certainly been given.
PSG will take a one-goal lead into next week’s second leg after one of the great Champions League matches.
PSG Edge out Bayern Munich
Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich in the breathless first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
There were nine goals in all — five in the first half and four in the second.
PSG got one more of them than Bayern, but will only take a slender advantage to Bavaria for next week’s second leg.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele got two each for PSG while Joao Neves got the other. Bayern, meanwhile, had four different goalscorers: Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz.
The winner after the second leg in eight days’ time will face Arsenal or Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.
Vincent Kompany’s side, who have already been crowned German champions, return to Bundesliga action this weekend as they host Heidenheim at the Allianz Arena.
Meanwhile, PSG continue their Ligue 1 title push with the visit of Lorient to Parc des Princes.
Then there’s the small matter of a trip to Munich for the second leg next Wednesday (May 6).
Luis Enrique knows he was just part of an all-time classic. Here’s the PSG boss speaking to CBS:
“You can never be angry with your players, even if you conceded four, five, six goals. It doesn’t matter. Both teams showed what we are, what we feel.
“I think it was party time, all the time. All the (possession) changes, high intensity out there, high level. Everybody was exhausted but at the same time very happy because we beat one of the best — if not the best — team in Europe this season.”
Before Luis Enrique started his interview with CBS, he shared a moment with counterpart Vincent Kompany, who watched the game from the coaches’ box seats high above the Parc Des Princes pitch while suspended. Of course, Luis Enrique has done that several times in PSG’s home stadium after being sent off or suspended.
“You were in my position (up) there, you like it?” he asked, cheekily.
“No, I really don’t like it,” Kompany responded, laughing.
The two coaches are friendly and complimented each other in the days leading up to the match.
