FC Bayern lose the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Paris Saint-Germain 4-5. FCBinside provides three insights into the match
Bayern lost 4-5 in a crazy game, but still have hope for the second leg. The game provided the following insights
1. Bayern play historically spectacular
The duel between these two European soccer giants was unforgettable, a spectacle, a game of superlatives. The protagonists and experts alike agreed that there had never been a game like it in the history of the sport
Every fan – even those who don’t support either team – will be happy to have seen this match
From a purely Bayern perspective, this season has already been historic, or at least historically spectacular. Regardless of how many of the possible titles can be placed in the display case at the end of this season, it can already be said that no team in FC Bayern’s long history has played such rigorous attacking and risk-taking soccer as coach Vincent Kompany’s team in the 2025/26 season
The action thriller at the Prinzenpark was not the first firework display. In recent weeks alone, there was the crazy 4-3 win at home against Real Madrid, which was also elevated to the Olympus of soccer entertainment by many. The 4-3 win in Mainz after trailing 3-0 was celebrated just three days before a Champions League semi-final
With these Bavarians, spectacle has almost become the norm, as evidenced by the Bundesliga goal record, which continues to climb. Football fans love goals, attacking play and risk
All of this can currently be seen regularly at FCB, and Bayern are currently winning over new fans all over the world with this type of soccer
2. Diaz is the Bayern catalyst
By definition, a catalyst accelerates both the forward and reverse reaction in reversible processes and thus changes the speed of chemical reactions
Luis Diaz is the catalyst in Bayern’s game. When he was added to this Bayern team, it immediately started to bubble. Diaz makes the processes in the forward and backward movement faster. He makes Bayern tougher and more toxic
The signing of the Colombian was a brilliant move by Max Eberl’s sporting management. How long was there discussion about extending Leroy Sané’s contract? From today’s perspective, you have to say that the game in Paris would have looked different with Sané on the left. Not as fast, not as hard, not as poisonous
The attacking trio that Diaz forms together with Michael Olise and Harry Kane is absolutely world class, but it takes three – and the other two have also raised their game up a notch thanks to Diaz
3. Bayern must now do better
It’s not hard to wax lyrical for long after a footballing experience like that, but the bottom line for Bayern is that they lost the first leg of the semi-final by one goal. They conceded five goals, which is normally a death sentence
In the end, however, it means nothing more mathematically for the second leg than a 0:1 or a 1:2. Bayern have to win somehow to at least reach extra time, or by a two-goal margin to go straight into the final in Budapest
For all their attacking brilliance, however, there are things Bayern need to do better in the second leg against PSG
It’s no secret that the key after conceding five goals lies in the defence, even if Max Eberl analysed after the game: „In the second leg, we have to finish off the situations we have up front – and we have many, many, many of them – more cleanly.“ This begs the question: How many more goals should Bayern score?
More defensive stability would do Bayern good next Wednesday. Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah actually played a good game in central defence, which sounds strange after conceding five goals
But Bayern’s defensive problems were more at the full-back positions. Josip Stanisic had a few problems on the right with the strong Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Alphonso Davies in the first half and then substitute Konrad Laimer in the second half were not solid on the left either
The main problem: In Kompany’s system, the full-backs often push very far forward, even into the centre-forward position. This has always been a recipe for success and generates great attacking power. But against the Parisian attacking stars, you are often very exposed if the full-backs do not retreat quickly enough. This inevitably creates spaces that Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Co. can exploit with their speed and class
Of course, Bayern can’t stonewall in the second leg, especially when they have to make up a goal. But more balance defensively would make life easier for everyone.