An ode to football: European press dazzled by PSG

The day before the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, some had predicted “the final before the final”. And they were right. The two best teams in Europe “offered an unprecedented spectacle this season… perhaps even for a long time,” according to the Spanish newspaper Marca on Wednesday, April 29.

If L’Équipe titled “Football Total” on its front page, foreign media are also amazed by the first leg match at the Parc des Princes, which ended with a victory for Parisians (5-4). “The world is in shock,” says the Spanish newspaper As, describing it as “a football monument, an epic match.”

Furthermore, they add that it was an “unforgettable spectacle that will be remembered for decades as one of the most thrilling Champions League semi-finals.” The intensity of the match matched the stakes, as the Parc des Princes had rarely experienced such an atmosphere and pressure.

The “match of the century”

Across the Channel, the Daily Mail talks about “one of the greatest European matches of all time”. “What happens when two super-clubs face each other? Chaos. Beautiful, absurd, unrestrained chaos, and we can see it again next week,” adds the English media. The Sun uses superlatives and even goes so far as to call it the “match of the century.” “PSG and Bayern, you are incredible!” writes Italy’s Gazetta dello Sport.

Despite the defeat, Germany also applauds the exceptional performance. “Thank you for these 90 minutes of pure football masterpiece,” writes Bild, mentioning “the best attacks in the world.” They also say, “Nine goals, two penalties, chances on both sides: in short, an epic match.” After ten minutes of observation, both teams went toe-to-toe.

“It’s hard to imagine that the European champion won’t emerge victorious from this clash,” reassures Marca. Who will advance to the final in Budapest on May 30 – PSG or Bayern? The answer will come after the second leg on Wednesday, May 6, where Parisians will have to resist the Germans at their home ground. Some are already looking forward to a second spectacle. “It should have been the final – thank goodness it’s not, and we can start all over again next week,” anticipates the Daily Mail.