PARIS, May 8 — Paris Saint-Germain secured a spot in the Champions League final with a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final tie yesterday, completing a 3-1 aggregate victory.
PARIS, May 8 — Paris Saint-Germain secured a spot in the Champions League final with a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final tie yesterday, completing a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Fabián Ruiz put PSG ahead with a powerful shot from the edge of the box in the 27th minute at the Parc des Princes, giving the Parisians control after they had weathered an early onslaught from Arsenal.
PSG, who were already leading from Ousmane Dembélé's goal in the first leg, saw Vitinha's second-half penalty saved but extended their advantage when Achraf Hakimi scored in the 72nd minute. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the visitors, but it was too late.
PSG will now face Inter Milan in the final in Munich on May 31, marking their second-ever Champions League final, five years after losing to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.
For Arsenal, their European dreams were shattered as they fell short of reaching their second final, 19 years after losing to Barcelona in Paris. With no trophies since the 2020 FA Cup, Mikel Arteta’s side now only have a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League to play for.
The atmosphere in Paris was electric, and PSG celebrated reaching the final in front of their fans for the first time since 2020, when their victory over RB Leipzig in the semi-finals was played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
Despite missing Dembélé due to a hamstring issue from the first leg, PSG faced early pressure from Arsenal, who had Thomas Partey back in midfield after serving a suspension. Arsenal created several chances in the opening minutes, with Declan Rice heading just wide and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making a series of key saves.
PSG eventually settled and came close to scoring on the 17th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling shot hit the post. Moments later, Ruiz scored the opener after a free-kick was cleared to him, and he fired in a left-footed shot from the edge of the box for his first-ever Champions League goal.
Arsenal still had hope as the second half began, but a remarkable save by Donnarumma prevented Saka from pulling one back. A penalty was awarded to PSG after Hakimi's shot brushed Myles Lewis-Skelly's hand, but Vitinha’s kick was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
PSG extended their lead to 2-0 when Dembélé assisted Hakimi for a well-taken finish. Arsenal responded with Saka's close-range goal after Leandro Trossard’s cross, but Saka then missed a golden opportunity to equalize with an open goal, sealing PSG’s victory and confirming their place in the final. — AFP
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