Champions League review: a stone-cold classic, Díaz’s perfect timing and a defensive puritan

Many pointed to the agitating role Diego Simeone played while the Dutch referee, Danny Makkelie, analysed the footage. “Simeone orchestrates the crowd here, but he also orchestrates the officials,” said the former Arsenal player Martin Keown, admittedly not an undetached pundit, on TNT’s UK broadcast. Simeone meanwhile was not happy with the earlier penalty Arsenal received after Hancko blocked off Viktor Gyökeres. “In Champions League semi-finals, you need a penalty that is truly a penalty,” said Simeone.

It is rare that Arteta is the calmer of the two managers on the sidelines, and nobody comes close to Atléti’s man in black’s perpetual motion. Simeone’s shift of Atlético’s formation at half-time lifted what had previously been a moribund contest. He also involved himself in a post-match exchange with Ben White. There is more than one way to negotiate the Champions League.

Player of the week

It may prove to be the most crucial goal of the nine in Paris. Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz completed the scoring to make it 5-4, and his coolness and perfectly timed run capped off a night when every attacker on the field was at his very best.

They said it

“More. Even more. We’re at home. We’ll have 75,000 people in that stadium. The city will live it for an entire week.” – Speaking to Amazon’s Gabriel Clarke, Vincent Kompany revealed what he wants from his Bayern team next Wednesday. Kompany offered no apologies for his team’s approach; at one point they were 5-2 down. His approach to coaching makes it easy to forget he was one of the finest defenders of his era.

The pundit’s chair

“By definition it can’t be a great game if you’re having that many mistakes on the pitch. It can’t be. I would take the Juventus v Milan European Cup final at Old Trafford 0-0 every day of the week.” – Former Birmingham City player Kenny Cunningham led the defensive puritans. Speaking on Irish channel Premier Sports, he compared Tuesday’s thriller unfavourably to a final widely regarded as the dullest of the Champions League era.

Looking ahead

Achraf Hakimi has claims to be the best attacking full-back in world football but his continues to be an injury-hit season; he struggled for fitness as Morocco failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations. A hamstring injury means Hakimi will miss the second leg, so PSG’s right flank will be manned by Lucas Hernández, who won the Champions League with Bayern when they beat PSG in the 2020 final.

Arsenal’s recent problems are attributed to a lack of verve in attack. Their starting front three of Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke did not create enough danger against Atléti. Gyökeres at least made a pest of himself and took his penalty well. Bukayo Saka was able to play some part, and substitute Eze lifted those around him. The unfortunate Kai Havertz is unlikely to feature on Tuesday. Atléti’s Alvarez was recently linked with Arsenal; he would be an upgrade. Should the Gunners fall short, questions will be raised about the recruitment policy of their sporting director, Andrea Berta, who once held the same role at Atlético.