What it was like to witness the greatest UEFA Champions League game of all time between PSG and Bayern - Ginola wink, wild tifos and exhausted Enrique

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The feelings began, for me, in a lift. Descending to the pitch at the Parc des Princes an hour before kick-off, two Paris Saint-Germain colleagues - in true Parisian style - were having a chat about fashion.

Highlights: PSG beat Bayern in wild nine-goal epic

Video credit: TNT Sports

"You look smart," one said to the other.

"Well it's a special Champions League night," the other - looking dapper in a three-piece suit - responded, "so I thought I'd make the effort."

When Parisians make the effort, you sense the occasion might be worth it.

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an hour ago

Well before that, there were signs of the significance of this PSG-Bayern Munich fixture, billed as the two best footballing sides on the planet going head-to-head.

Fans were already assembling to line the bus arrivals route five hours before kick-off and when the teams did land at the stadium, a cacophony of noise greeted them, with the PSG chorus being led by two indefatigable figures on a drum and loudspeaker respectively.

PSG head coach Luis Enrique gave an impassioned fist pump to the crowd as his players emerged looking every inch the European champions.

One can only imagine the adrenaline that courses through the veins even at this early stage of the evening, but that was purely an aperitif.

Inside, one of the all-time great pre-match scenes was being unveiled, with three sides of the ground covered in glorious Parisian tifos, and even the Bayern support getting in on the act with their own, demanding their team "give everything for our dream."

The west side of the ground saw PSG call for the "conquest of Europe", with the giant structures invoking France's historic past.

As a sizeable brass band tried to make themselves heard in front of a thronging Auteuil wall and while trying not to inhale too much smoke from the pitchside firework display, I suddenly found myself next to a French icon - Mr David Ginola.

The great man gave me a wink as he took in the surroundings, appearing to be Facetiming his family. Why not?

And with the scene set, the madness unfolded.

Harry Kane continued his happy penchant for scoring in the biggest games of Bayern's season to ignite the goalscoring, with his team-mates knowing the Englishman's celebration so well now that they are able to near-sychronise it.

Kane (centre) and Pavlovic (far right)
Image credit: TNT Sports

The following seven minutes saw perhaps one of the only home hushes of the whole night, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hauled his side level with a ridiculous goal, greasing the wheels of a ding-dong battle.

Three more goals followed before the break and, as PSG were charging into their 5-2 lead early in the second half, with flares going off everywhere, it occurred to me - looking behind me into the stands - that no one was bothering to sit down.

The crowd were permanently on their feet, with both sides attacking incessantly and barely a minute elapsing before the next wild act.

Even the reigning Ballon d'Or holder looked knackered before an hour had been played...

Dembele whips up the crowd after his second goal...
Image credit: TNT Sports

...before sinking to his haunches to grab a drink
Image credit: TNT Sports

It felt akin to witnessing a Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic war, or Jannik Sinner v Carlos Alcaraz from the current era - you think the level can't get any more intense, any higher. But it does, time and time again.

If the template of these two sides ends up shaping how the game is played in the coming years, then we're in for some ride.

Bayern, to their immense credit, kept believing and somehow fired a two-goal, three-minute salvo that will see them go back to Munich with real hope of ousting the reigning champions.

Afterwards inside a disbelieving press conference suite, both managers were feeling the effects.

It was 12.15am local time when Luis Enrique walked in, interrupting his first question to plead for "short questions," and admitting twice to feeling "so tired".

Kompany hadn't been able to be pitchside owing to his suspension, and said the situation had been a "catastrophe" for his emotions.

You and me both, Vincent.

Shall we do it again in a week? See you all on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.

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