The first leg of the semi-finals produced a nine-goal thriller and a tense evening in Madrid. Next week’s matches are set to be a treat.
Nine-Goal Thriller in Paris
Football’s role as a leading hot-take commodity was taken to the nth degree after Tuesday’s nine-goal slugfest between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris. The debate will continue until next Wednesday’s second leg in Munich. Luis Enrique said it was the “best match I have ever coached”. The PSG coach omitted to mention La Remontada of 2017, when his Barcelona team won 6-1 at the Camp Nou to complete the greatest comeback of all. Last season’s 7-6 semi-final double-header when Inter edged Barça was also a contender.
Controversy in Madrid as Atlético Host Arsenal
A 1-1 draw between Atlético Madrid and Arsenal on Wednesday night in Madrid did not match the previous evening for entertainment. Those who value defence over attack got their fill until Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez grew in influence in the second half. Griezmann, as if acknowledging this would be his very last Champions League home game, showed off the class that has many wondering if decamping to MLS is premature. Fans at Orlando City have much to look forward to from one of Europe’s unique talents.
It was a night when penalty kicks and the video assistant referee took centre stage. The award – and rescinding – of what initially seemed a penalty when Dávid Hancko caught Eberechi Eze in the 78th minute had Arsenal supporters raging. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said there was “no clear and obvious error [on the initial decision]”. Arteta added that this changes the course of the game, and at this level, this cannot happen.
Many pointed to the agitating role Diego Simeone played while the Dutch referee, Danny Makkelie, analysed the footage. Martin Keown said that Simeone orchestrates the crowd and the officials on TNT’s UK broadcast. Simeone meanwhile was not happy with the earlier penalty Arsenal received after Hancko blocked off Viktor Gyökeres. Simeone said that in Champions League semi-finals, you need a penalty that is truly a penalty.
It is rare that Arteta is the calmer of the two managers on the sidelines, and nobody comes close to Atléti’s man in black’s perpetual motion. Simeone’s shif