FALSE 10: At first, I thought PSG-Bayern was amazing, but then I watched it again...

First impressions can be deceitful, often leading us to judgments that may not reflect the full truth.

Maybe it's the girl you chatted with at the bar, a song that popped up on Spotify, or a movie you stumbled upon on Netflix. The moment that first encounter wraps up, your mind races to slap a label: awful, meh, decent, amazing, or even once-in-a-lifetime. These snap judgments cover a wide spectrum and can catch you off guard when, over time, reality turns out to be something else entirely.

That's what pushed me to rethink my first impression of the now hotly contested Paris Saint-Germain versus Bayern Munich showdown in the Champions League semi-final's opening leg.

Why can’t this match last forever? PSG broke Bayern in one of the greatest UCL matches ever!

That night, swept up with millions, I felt pure magic, like a dazzling date you wish could last forever. The thrill was rare, rivalling the legendary 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, which exploded into a penalty shootout after a breathtaking 3-3 draw.

As a neutral, all I wanted from Les Parisiens and the Bavarians was a thrilling duel between two attacking powerhouses - and that's exactly what I got. Actually, it was even more than I bargained for. By the end of the first half, I was glued to the screen, ignoring my phone, terrified to blink and miss a flash of brilliance, a silky dribble, or a rocket of a goal. Five goals in just 45 minutes was an utterly mesmerising experience.

The second half brought four more goals, pushing the total to a staggering nine - a 5-4 spectacle never witnessed at this level of football. When the final whistle blew, I, like so many others, plunged into social media and sports sites, hungry to know if others felt the same electric charge. Nearly 80 per cent echoed my awe, calling it 'a final before the final,' 'the best match in UCL history,' and 'everything I ever wanted in a football game.'

Yet, social media and a handful of respected football journalists, including our Mozzart Sport Kenya colleague, grabbed my attention with their 'unpopular opinions.' They argued that while we watched a modern spectacle overflowing with goals and TikTok-worthy highlights, it lacked something vital: strong defending and tactical discipline to balance the wild, end-to-end chaos.

FALSE 10: Too Close to the Sun

The question "Was I wrong after all?" began to haunt me for days. Instead of writing another glowing tribute to the Game of all Games for Saturday’s False 10, I chose a new path. On Friday, I settled in and rewatched the match, determined to find the truth with a fresh perspective.

Time slipped by, my mind cleared, and I knew my view would shift. And it did. Though I usually resist echoing the crowd, this time I found myself agreeing with the majority.

That was a bloody brilliant game!

"Some opinions are rubbish," Luis Enrique hits back at PSG critics

Why? Because if you look closely - and I urge everyone to hit replay and watch that game again - you'll see there were hardly any defensive lapses at Parc des Princes. Safonov and Neuer, the keepers, cannot be blamed for any of the nine goals. The PSG and Bayern defenders fought hard to contain their rivals, and aside from perhaps Michael Olise's first-half goal, when he found too much space to fire under the crossbar, they truly held their own.

If you doubt me, just watch Josip Stanisic's masterful defending on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after the Georgian trickster embarrassed him on the left flank midway through the first half. Or consider Dayot Upamecano's stunning one-on-one victory over Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, his childhood neighbour. And don't miss Upamecano's remarkable run with the ball in the second half, gliding forward like a world-class winger when most defenders would be too exhausted to move.

Dembele and Upamecano never left home - even on football’s biggest night

Looking at the scoresheet after the match, I rushed to conclude it's almost embarrassing for the player of Harry Kane's ilk not to put his name on it (aside from the penalty, of course). But then I rewatched the match and was stunned by the versatility the former Tottenham forward showcased that night. His passes were out of this world, as if he were a true 10, not a false one; his defending should be studied by some full-backs, as you could actually see him tackling in front of Bayern's box.

My second viewing left me awestruck by Zaire-Emery's long-range passes, which could instantly flip the focus from Bayern's scoring chance to PSG's lightning-fast counter-attack. Nothing amateurish here; the game's tempo and momentum were fueled by flashes of genius, not by anyone's mistakes.

I'd go so far as to say this match deserves to be a case study for what we can learn. Low blocks, high press, and all those tactical buzzwords lose their power against squads like PSG and Bayern Munich. The players' individual brilliance (who said Vitinha?), especially up front, is so extraordinary that it can dismantle any defensive plan you throw at them.

“The best match I've been in as a manager”

They can rip defences apart, leaving you to defend one-on-one, hoping none of those dazzlingly skilled players will embarrass your back line. With their speed, technical mastery, and relentless runs, sometimes only divine intervention can save you from disaster.

Inter Milan witnessed it a year ago in the UCL final, when Luis Enrique's men destroyed them 5-0 in the most one-sided Champions League final in decades. Thankfully, Vincent Kompany's team is PSG's twin brother, only in red.

That's why it doesn't matter which side - which pill, blue or red - you choose next Wednesday. Take both, savour this once-in-a-lifetime clash, and hit replay.

By: BOJAN BABIC