Title holders Paris Saint-Germain surrendered a three-goal lead before holding on to win a nine-goal thriller at Parc des Princes, setting a new benchmark for a Champions League semifinal.

Five goals, a squandered lead, and a record night in Paris

Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal in Paris, title holders PSG said after the match — a result that required them to overcome a dramatic Bayern comeback after leading by three goals.

PSG entered the tie as defending champions and hosted Bayern at Parc des Princes. The hosts built what appeared to be a commanding advantage before Bayern clawed back to 5-4, making it the highest-scoring Champions League semifinal first leg on record.

The nine-goal contest was hailed by players, fans, and football figures as one of the finest matches seen across any competition this season.

What the result means

PSG hold a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg. Bayern, despite conceding five, remain alive in the tie and will have the opportunity to overturn the deficit on home soil.

The result sets up a second leg with enormous stakes: PSG must protect their lead while Bayern need only a one-goal winning margin to force extra time, and a two-goal victory to advance on aggregate.

Context: reigning champions under pressure

PSG came into the semifinal as the reigning Champions League title holders. The match against Bayern was billed as a blockbuster fixture, with Bayern travelling to Paris for what previews described as a clash between two of Europe's most decorated clubs.

The first leg will be remembered as much for PSG's near-collapse as for their eventual victory — surrendering a three-goal cushion before finding a way to hold on underlines both the threat Bayern pose and the nerves that could define the return fixture.