Holders Paris St Germain edge Bayern Munich 5-4 in record-breaking semi-final first leg

Defending champions Paris St Germain battled past visitors Bayern Munich 5-4 in a pulsating Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday that had a record number of goals at this stage of the competition.

In a match that will go down as an instant classic, PSG came from a goal down to lead 5-2 with two goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele before Bayern struck twice in three minutes just before the hour to improve their chances for next week's return leg in Munich.

The match pitted the most attacking Champions League teams of the season against each other and it quickly lived up to its billing with a relentless pace and with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany in the stands, serving out a suspension, and his assistant Aaron Danks in the dugout.

"It was two teams that seek to attack that don't question themselves," man-of-the-match Dembele said.

"It's the semi-finals of the Champions League. We're happy with the result, despite being up 5-2.

"We stopped playing a little by the end. Bayern are a top team. It was an incredible game, and now we'll go to Munich, hoping to get the win in order to qualify for the final."

Harry Kane converted a 17th-minute penalty to beat PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, and become the first English player to net in six successive Champions League fixtures.

The England captain then delivered a well-timed pass for Michael Olise but his close-range shot was cleared off the line.

The hosts should have levelled when Dembele broke through but his finish flew well wide in the 23rd. Kvaratskhelia did it much better with a trademark move and a low shot after cutting into the box.

Bayern hit the post following a solo run by Olise and his deflected pass but it was PSG who scored again in the 33rd with Joao Neves' glancing header.

There was plenty of drama left in the first half with Olise making amends for his earlier miss and drawing Bayern level with a 41st-minute shot after being given far too much space around the box.

PSG were then awarded a stoppage-time penalty and Dembele powered his spot kick past Manuel Neuer to put them back in front.

PSG picked up where they left off after halftime and carved out a two-goal lead when Kvaratskhelia drilled in a 56th-minute effort and before Bayern had any time to recover the French side struck again, this time Dembele beating Neuer once more with a low drive off the post two minutes later.

The hosts looked to be running away with the game but Bayern refused to buckle and matched them with two goals of their own in a three-minute span from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz to greatly improve their chances for the return leg in Munich.

PSG's Senny Mayulu rattled the woodwork in the 86th minute as both sides kept up the frenetic pace until the final whistle.

"Although we lost the game, we showed what kind of team we are and that we can deal with setbacks," said Bayern defender Jonathan Tah.

"In the end, it's just 1-0. We know we can win by two goals at home. We're confident and we'll give everything next week to reach the final."

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann Editing by Christian Radnedge)