Bayern Munich vs. PSG score: Mbappe leads PSG to victory in wild five-goal Champions League thriller

PSG held on in a high scoring instant classic

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich played out a UEFA Champions League classic in their quarterfinal first leg at Allianz Arena on Wednesday with the visitors winning 3-2 to take a one-goal lead into next week's second leg.

Kylian Mbappe was the hero with two goals and Marquinhos added another before being forced off injured as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Muller goals were not enough for the hosts.

Mauricio Pochettino and Hansi Flick were forced to rearrange their starting XIs due to numerous absences on both sides but there was plenty of star power left on the pitch in Bavaria and it took just three minutes for it to tell with Mbappe firing through Manuel Neuer after being teed up by Neymar.

It was an uncharacteristic error from the Germany international and he was nearly made to pay again by compatriot Julian Draxler, a surprise PSG starter, who found the back of the net only to be hauled back for a fractional offside.

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Les Parisiens were not to be denied, though, as Marquinhos doubled their lead on 28 minutes after he timed his run to perfection to finish from a majestic second Neymar assist, though the captain was withdrawn minutes later through injury.

The most predictable storyline in this matchup came to fruition eight minutes before half-time when former PSG man Choupo-Moting glanced in a header from a Benjamin Pavard delivery. Subsequently Leon Goretzka, as well as Niklas Sule, joined Marquinhos in being substituted before the break.

Neuer redeemed himself early in the second half by denying Neymar what would have been a third for PSG and Muller finally made Bayern's pressure pay with an equalizer after he was supplied by Joshua Kimmich.

At that point, Mitchel Bakker was on for Abdou Diallo and PSG were playing with Danilo Pereira as a makeshift central defender with the visitors majorly under pressure from a rampant Bayern attack that was creating chances at will.

Step forward Mbappe, who after missing one offside chance earlier, was played in by Di Maria to finish clinically and re-establish the lead for the French giants and an impressive three-goal haul away from home.

Despite good chances late on, most notably David Alaba, PSG's defense and Keylor Navas in goal held firm to deny the home side and inflicted a first Allianz Arena loss since late 2019 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

The two will meet again in Paris next week with Pochettino's men well-placed to finish the job and advance at the expense of Flick and his squad.

Bayern Munich 2, PSG 3

⚽ PSG: Kylian Mbappe (3')

⚽PSG: Marquinhos (28')

⚽Bayern Munich: Eric Maxim Chuopo-Moting (37')

⚽Bayern Munich: Thomas Muller (60')

⚽PSG: Kylian Mbappe (68')

[Apr 7, 2021 at 4:53 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Huge result for PSG and what a rollercoaster that was! Incredible entertainment.

[Apr 7, 2021 at 4:37 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

This match has been just incredible. One for the ages!