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, completing a 3-1 aggregate victory on Wednesday.
Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box, giving PSG a firm grip on the match after withstanding an early onslaught from Arsenal.
Already ahead from Ousmane Dembele’s goal in the first leg, PSG faced a challenge when Vitinha had his second-half penalty saved. However, Achraf Hakimi sealed the win in the 72nd minute, and despite Bukayo Saka pulling one back for Arsenal, the result was never in doubt.
PSG will now face Inter Milan in the final in Munich on May 31, marking their second-ever Champions League final appearance, five years after losing to Bayern Munich in 2020.
Arsenal’s European campaign ended in disappointment 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 focuses on securing second place in the Premier League.
The atmosphere at the Parc des Princes was electric, with PSG celebrating their first Champions League final appearance in front of fans since the pandemic, when their 2020 semi-final victory over RB Leipzig was played behind closed doors.
Arsenal came out aggressively, with Thomas Partey back in midfield, but PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma made a string of crucial saves early on, including a stunning stop from Martin Odegaard. PSG gradually grew into the game, with Desire Doue setting up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose shot hit the post, before Ruiz put them ahead with a stunning long-range effort.
PSG nearly doubled their lead soon after, but Barcola wasted a chance. Despite Arsenal’s best efforts, including another Donnarumma save to deny Saka, PSG sealed the win when Hakimi finished off a Dembele assist in the 72nd minute. Saka’s late goal for Arsenal was not enough, and the Gunners’ hopes of a comeback were dashed when he missed an open goal moments later.
With no miracle comeback, PSG celebrated a well-deserved spot in the final.
AFP
