A record-breaking semi-final - the antidote to modern football?

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. …