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Paris St-Germain vs Bayern Munich: A record-breaking semi-final – the antidote to modern football?

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The tone was set for a dazzling European encounter when both sets of fans unfurled giant tifos before kick-off – PSG’s was emblazoned with the words ‘the conquest of Europe’, while the visitors’ banner urged their side to ‘give everything’.

In a chaotic opening 45 minutes at the Parc des Princes, both sides did just that.

It was fitting the two top-scoring sides in the Champions League this season put five goals on the scoreboard in a mesmerising, end-to-end opening period.

Harry Kane’s penalty was cancelled out by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s clinical finish, before Joao Neves’ glancing header and Michael Olise’s moment of individual brilliance left the sides level.

Many will suggest the PSG penalty, awarded after Bayern defender Alphonso Davies was deemed to have handled an Ousmane Dembele cross in the box, was harsh. Dembele calmly converted to give PSG a 3-2 lead at the break.

But the controversial incident was ultimately overshadowed by what pundits called one of the greatest halves of football they had ever witnessed.

Former England captain Alan Shearer said on Amazon Prime: “I can’t stop smiling at how open and bonkers this game is.

“It’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever been to. Two teams that believe in their own ability to outscore their opponent.”

The chaos continued after the break with PSG building a three-goal cushion, again through Kvaratskhelia and Dembele, leaving some to wonder if the outcome had been settled.

But Bayern were unwilling to let the chance of a first Champions League title since 2020 get away from them as they fought back in fearsome fashion.

Goals from Dayot Upamecano and Diaz were met with stunned silence from the home fans and no further response from the PSG players as the hosts finished with a slim advantage.

“I have been managing for more than 15 years, and I have to say it was the most exciting [match],” added Luis Enrique.

“It is important to show that that is the way to try to play football. OK, we are not happy as a coach when you concede four goals, but I’m happy because we won.”

It was the first time in any major European semi-final that both sides had scored at least four goals, and just the second time in a Champions League knockout match after Chelsea and Liverpool drew 4-4 in the 2008-09 quarter-final.

With PSG netting 43 goals and Bayern 42, it was also the first time two teams have each scored more than 40 times in a Champions League campaign.

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Why does Robbie Ure have Robbie Ure on his Scotland shirt?

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“A lot of people will just call me, they’ll always say Robbie Ure,” the Sevilla striker explained.

“They wouldn’t just say Ure, so that was a reason.

“And then, to be honest, I think U-R-E is just so small, I just don’t really like it.

“So, I put my first name in as well. I’ve got it at club level too, I just prefer it.”

It’s his form for club – well, his previous club IK Sirius that earned him his summer move to Spain – that got him here, playing alongside Oli McBurnie as Pocognoli opted for a bold line-up as he made his bow in the dugout.

The aggressive, energetic style the Belgian prefers asks a lot of his strikers. In the three who featured – including Kieron Bowie who replaced Ure after 67 minutes – they have the legs required to do the power of work.

“I loved every minute of it,” the former Rangers youth said of his debut. “Obviously, disappointed not to win the game. With the second half performance we probably deserved to but making my debut for Scotland, it’s an amazing feeling and I’m really proud and hungry for more.

“The gaffer put the team up on the screen in the meeting and I saw my name. It was a great feeling but I still have a job to do so I tried to keep my emotions quite relaxed.”

He might have been hard-pressed to contain his emotions had his long, low drive -the only glimmer of hope in a grim first 45 minutes on Saturday – found the bottom corner rather than caressing the post.

After the break, his pal McBurnie, who “played really well” in his view, had a couple of cracking chances to open his international account on his 17th appearance as the Scots completely dominated.

“We changed the structure up front, I think Oli dropped in a little bit more on the left so was able to play really well with Robbo [Andy Robertson] and Billy [Gilmour], which helped us,” Ure explained of the switch at half-time.

“Hopefully our relationship will continue to grow, I really enjoyed it and thought he played really well.”

In the end, there were plenty of positives for Pocognoli as his side picked up a point in their Nations League opener.

Plenty for the Tartan Army to take away with them too as a new era begins, with Robbie Ure right part of it.

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Cavan Sullivan: The 16-year-old US debutant primed for the Premier League

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Rather than struggle with the weight of expectation, his performances have improved as the spotlight on him has brightened.

It appears he is already outgrowing the North American league, but it might be wise to allow him to play at this level, in his hometown, with his family around him (his brother Quinn, 22, also plays for the Union) for a little while longer, regardless of the other options open to him pre-City.

“I find him to be handling the pressure of everything pretty well,” added Tannenwald.

“Talk with him for long enough, and you’ll know he’s still a teenager, still finding his way with some things as any teen would.

“Yes, he can come across as cocky, but he’s well grounded, not just by Richter, but by having his oldest brother there in the locker room with him.

“Away from the stadium, Sullivan has a strong family at home. Both of his parents, Brendan and Heike, played soccer, and grandfather Larry went from a player in the 1960s to one of the most famous coaches in the Philadelphia region.

“They all keep Cavan grounded too, even as they know he is the best of all of them.”

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Injured Assefa narrowly misses world record in Berlin

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Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa wins the Berlin Marathon but narrowly misses out on breaking the women’s world record because of injury.

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