Paris Saint-Germain are through to the UEFA Champions League final after beating Arsenal 2-1 in the semifinal second leg at Parc des Princes on May 7.
PSG sealed a 3-1 win on aggregate, having already claimed a 1-0 victory in the first leg at the Emirates on April 29. They will now meet Inter Milan in the final on June 1 in Munich.
Arsenal came into the match needing to overturn a one-goal deficit. They started with real intensity, pushing forward from kickoff, but were denied twice early on by a sharp Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The PSG keeper made excellent stops from Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard in the opening eight minutes, keeping the home side steady under pressure.
PSG opened the scoring in the 27th minute through Fabian Ruiz, who finished off a flowing team move. That goal gave them a two-goal cushion in the tie and lifted the crowd.
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As PSG settled, Arsenal kept pressing but struggled to break through. The game remained tight, with both teams battling for control and space in midfield.
After the break, PSG nearly stretched their lead further. Achraf Hakimi’s shot struck Myles Lewis-Skelly’s hand, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Vitinha stepped up but saw his penalty saved, a let-off for the Gunners. However, Hakimi made up for it with a brilliant goal in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0.
Arsenal hit back in the 80th minute with a tidy finish from Bukayo Saka, giving them hope of a late turnaround. But PSG held on, managing the closing stages with control.
Donnarumma, once again, stood tall, making key saves to deny Arsenal a way back. His performance was vital over both legs.
PSG boss Luis Enrique praised the result, saying, “Over the course of the two legs, we scored more goals than them, and that’s the most important thing in football.” His strategy blended speed and solid defending effectively.
Mikel Arteta admitted the difference was in goal. “The goalkeeper won the game for them, in both ties,” he told reporters after the final whistle.
Arsenal skipper Ødegaard said the team gave everything. “We gave it a proper go, we started the game really well, were on the front foot, had the momentum and created a few big chances. In the end, it wasn’t enough,” he added, visibly disappointed but proud of the effort.
