The lights dimmed.
A hush swept the Allianz Arena; not silence, but the sharp intake of breath before a scream. Over 75,000 voices posed on the edge of eruption.
The LED banners around the stadium glowed in regal hues; UEFA blue, PSG red, Barca garnet. Then, that iconic orchestral swell rang out:
THE CHAMPIONS…
And the place detonated.
Then, from the tunnel, they emerged.
Paris Saint-Germain came out first. A phalanx of stars cloaked in sleek midnight-blue kits with bold crimson trims. Ousmane Dembele led the line; jaw clenched, aura coiled like a panther.
Compared to his FC Barcelona days, the Frenchman was now a changed man- footballer; an improved footballer, the sharpest tool in the PSG attack.
Behind him, Marquinhos stood tall, the team's silent spine. As Dembele led the line, walking out, he met a wall of contrasting noise; jeers from the Barca faithful, and cheers from the Parisians.
