So where do I start Champions League fans?
By focusing on one of the all-time classic semi-finals – one that arguably topped last season’s epic between Inter Milan and Barcelona – or a scandalous decision at the top level.
Well, with a bit of both to be honest.
Sure, there are so many Champions League 2026 highlights from the Parc des Princes first leg between holders Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich that plenty will be discussed and written about in the days to come.
But what about a decision on the stroke of half-time which could yet prove decisive in determining who progresses to the final.
We were a minute into first half stoppage time when world player of the year Ousmane Dembele struck a ball which hit the thigh of full-back Alphonso Davies before bouncing up onto his arm.
The match continued as Dembele protested before the official, Sandro Scharer, was presumably told in his earpiece to look at the television monitor, which he did and duly awarded a spot-kick.
Rather than me sum up the inept decision, I looked online and copied the first four responses that I could see from watching football fans.
They read as follows:
- ‘So all a player has to do is hit the ball against the player’s body? Ridiculous.’
- ‘That penalty is an absolute joke. It hits his leg! Terrible officiating. It comes off his thigh first and then onto his arm.’
- ‘Horrendous decision and everything wrong with the European handball rule. Arm goes out fractionally to stabilise, perfectly natural and he tries to draw away again. Nonsense.’
- ‘Absolute nonsense penalty decision. Deflected onto his arm which is already by his side.’
When even rival fans are in agreement, you know a miscarriage of justice has occurred.
Bayern, who had already won a thriller against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, must have been demoralised because Dembele rifled in the penalty seconds before the half-time whistle blew and then a 3-2 PSG advantage had become 5-2 within 13 minutes of the restart.
It looked like tie over but, to their immense credit, the Bavarians hit back and the SBOTOP Champions League 2026 betting odds remain evenly matched going into next week’s second leg with a final score of PSG 5-4 Bayern.
What a shame such a decision took the gloss off an exceptional night in Paris.
A night when the football was of exceptional calibre, played at pace, played with craft and technique, played with passion: total entertainment.
Some of the best players in the world on view. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Desire Doue, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Luis Diaz and others.
Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot; Georgian wizard Kvaratskhelia delivered more magic to equalise; Joao Neves headed the hosts in front and then
Olise was at the heart of the next moment of magic, jinking past three opponents and firing home an equaliser.
The spot-kick that should never have been ensured the Parisiens had a half-time advantage and that was quickly extended through Kvaratskhelia, after careless defending, and more cool finishing by Dembele.
Game over?
Not at all as centre back Dayot Upamecano headed home and Diaz, who had seen a goal disallowed not long before, produced another wonderful finish to reduce the arrears further.
There was still 22 minutes remaining at that point but that is where the scoring ended. For another week anyway.
After the highest-scoring semi-final in Champions League history, and the joint-most goals in a semi-final including the European Cup era with Rangers 3-6 Eintracht Frankfurt in 1959-60, the other two semi-finalists had a lot to live up to.
In truth, the tie between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal was always going to be a tie of a different nature and could never live up to the billing of 24 hours previously.
Yet it was compelling for different reasons.
It was never going to be a repeat of the group game rout in North London six months ago between two sides who pride themselves on their defensive resilience and are more likely to be found holding out for a late goal.
A meeting of two incredibly single-minded coaches (Diego Simeone and Mikel Arteta), just like 24 hours previously, there was a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Unlikely 24 hours previously, while there was still some contention about it from the hosts, it was nothing like as obvious an error.
There was no doubt Viktor Gyokeres stopped his run in the box which caused David Hancko to shove him in the back.
The Swede dusted himself down and fired low and hard into the bottom corner for his 19th of the season, the power taking it beyond Jan Oblak even though he guessed correctly.
Eleven minutes after the restart came another penalty, awarded after the ball came off Ben White’s leg and touched his hand – yet again a decision which was highly questionable.
Julian Alvarez, a player linked with a summer move to the Gunners, despatched with aplomb and, as a result, netted his 25th-goal in his 41st Champions League appearance – the fewest games taken to reach 25 goals by any South American in the competition, surpassing Lionel Messi, who reached 25 goals in his 42nd outing.
Both sides had chances but met fine goalkeepers in Oblak and Raya and the woodwork.
One apiece and all to play for in North London next Tuesday night.
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