The 5-4 Paris Saint-Germain win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals was one of the most ridiculous matches of football in recent history as some of the best attacking prowess in Europe was on full display in the French capital. Unlike Bayern’s quarterfinal clashes against Real Madrid, the only real controversial decision came in the form of Alphonso Davies’ handball in the box just before halftime that led to PSG taking a 3-2 lead into the break by virtue of Ousmane
Dembélé converting the penalty with his first of two goals on the night.
When it was 5-2 to the Ligue 1 giants and hope was fading for Bayern, but moments of magic from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Díaz kept them within touching distance, taking the 5-4 aggregate scoreline to the return leg in Munich. There’ no reason to suggest Vincent Kompany’s side isn’t capable of winning the second leg by one goal to take it to extra time or by two goals to advance to the final in Budapest.
PSG are now set to be without defender Achraf Hakimi for the return leg, too, as he pulled up with what looked to be an apparent injury in the second half after a brief tussle with Konrad Laimer, Sky Sport have confirmed. It has been confirmed that he tore a muscle fiber in his right leg and will definitely miss practice the second leg, though it is now felt his participation at the World Cup with Morocco will be in jeopardy.
He was not replaced despite staying on the ground and clutching his right for a considerable amount of time even though Luis Enrique did have one substitution left to make since he had only made four previously. The injury news will come as a blow for the French side ahead of the all-important second leg.
Initial fears from French journalist Fabrice Hawkins have now been confirmed. What was initially deemed to be just a bout of cramp for Hakimi is a muscle fiber tear. The Moroccan defender went through some more testing on Wednesday to get an official diagnosis. Enrique will likely have Warren Zaïre-Emery cover for him at the right-back spot and possibly recruit Fabiran Ruiz to start in midfield alongside Vitinha and João Neves.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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