Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain met in the Champions League semi-final second leg at 8pm BST, with PSG carrying a 5-4 lead from the first leg and both sides making one change to their lineups. Bayern selected Konrad Laimer at left-back instead of Alphonso Davies, while PSG brought in Fabian Ruiz for the injured Achraf Hakimi.
The change for PSG probably meant Warren Zaire-Emery moved to right-back, a shuffle that underlined how little margin remained after a first leg that finished 5-4. Bayern lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while PSG stayed in a 4-3-3.
That setup was only part of the story. Ousmane Dembele had said that if he did not press, Luis Enrique would bench him, a remark that fit the demands PSG have placed on their forwards as much for work rate as for goals. The only way either side could miss the final through suspension was by being sent off tonight, which gave every challenge and every decision extra weight.
The match also sat inside a wider PSG argument that has followed the club for years. Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar all passed through Paris without delivering the Champions League title, and the first leg’s concession of four goals at home raised the old problem again: talent alone has never been enough. Clarence Seedorf put the point in terms of structure, entertainment, restraint and defence, a reminder that Europe’s biggest nights usually punish any imbalance.
So the second leg began with the scoreline still live, the personnel already adjusted and the risk of a red card hanging over both teams. After a 5-4 first leg, Bayern and PSG did not need a grander stage to know what was at stake; they only needed to avoid one mistake too many.