The region of Evre in Normandy celebrated its two "children" who grew up together and gave a unique performance in the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich as rivals
A town of fewer than 50,000 people found itself at the heart of a Champions League spectacle on Tuesday night, as it celebrated two of its own: Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain and Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munich.
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Both players played starring roles in Paris’ thrilling 5 - 4 victory over Bayern in the Champions League semi-final. Dembélé struck twice for the hosts, while Upamecano pulled one back with Bayern’s third goal in a match that will be remembered for its intensity and drama.
Yet the occasion carried even greater meaning for the two France internationals. Raised in the La Madeleine neighbourhood of Évreux, where they first learned their trade, Dembélé and Upamecano ensured their community could share in the moment. They arranged match tickets for local residents, covered travel expenses, and spent time with fans who had supported them from the very beginning.
In the hours leading up to kick-off at the Parc des Princes, Évreux itself was already in celebration mode. A large neighborhood barbecue brought residents together, with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich shirts filling the streets in a vibrant show of pride and unity.
Their bond runs deeper than a shared hometown. The two stars attended the same schools, developed through the same local football structures, and even played together for Évreux in 2009. Those early connections have endured, shaping a friendship that has lasted well beyond their rise to the top of world football.
Speaking before the match to Canal+, Upamecano offered a glimpse into that relationship. He described a dynamic built on playful rivalry and mutual respect. “We exchange banter,” he said, “but once the game is over, we put it all behind us and go back to smiling.”
That respect was never clearer than in 2025, when Dembélé lifted the Ballon d'Or. Upamecano later admitted the moment moved him to tears. “We always knew he would become a great player,” he said. “But seeing him there, thanking his mother, his family, his friends… it was something special. I was proud, really proud.”
On a night of goals and spectacle in Paris, it was a small corner of Normandy that perhaps felt the victory most deeply.