Champions League: PSG completes final – victory against Arsenal
On the pitch, Ousmane Dembélé fell into the arms of the outstanding Gianluigi Donnarumma, and fireworks rose from the roof of the Parc des Princes: When Paris Saint-Germain reached the Champions League final for the second time with a convincing 2-1 (1-0) victory against Arsenal, the jubilation knew no bounds. A composed and confident performance was enough for coach Luis Enrique's team, following the 1-0 victory in the first leg, to deservedly advance to the final on May 31 in Munich against Inter Milan.
Spaniard Fabián Ruiz (27th) and former Dortmund player Achraf Hakimi (72nd) scored in the sold-out Parc de Princes for Paris, which has never won the Champions League despite financial support from Qatar. Bukayo Saka's goal (76th) came too late for Real Madrid's conquerors, Arsenal.
"Many people didn't believe in us, but we did it," Hakimi told Canal+: "We worked hard, we are a team, we are a family, we deserve this moment, with all the fans, all the Parisians."
In their only previous final appearance, Paris lost to Bayern Munich in 2020. This match against Inter marks a first: Never before have the two clubs faced each other in a competitive match.
One day after Inter's spectacular 4-3 extra-time victory over FC Barcelona, the match in Paris also got off to a furious start, as Arsenal immediately pushed the pace. PSG goalkeeper Donnarumma, who had already been impressive in the first leg, was in the spotlight several times, and the Italian showed his class when Martin Odegaard saved a low shot in the 8th minute.
Without first-leg goalscorer Dembélé, who was substituted after halftime due to muscular problems, Paris had little to offer until Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the post from distance in the 17th minute. The atmosphere was now boiling over; the PSG ultras had already fired up their team with a firework display outside the stadium. When Fabián Ruiz fired a shot with his left from the edge of the penalty area to open the scoring, the fans couldn't contain themselves.
PSG then skillfully managed their lead, but Arsenal didn't let up. This continued after the break: The visitors desperately searched for gaps in the French champions' compact defense to at least equalize. Saka forced Donnarumma into another brilliant save (64').
A little later, the next upset: Referee Felix Zwayer, after reviewing TV footage, penalized a handball by Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Vitinha, after an irritatingly casual run-up, was denied by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya (69'). Hakimi improved on this with a right-footed shot from open play, and Saka narrowed the gap again – and even had a chance to make it 2-2 (80').
The final will mark the first ever competitive match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter. So far, the two teams have only met in friendly matches, the last of which Inter won 2-1 in Tokyo in August 2023.
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