May 9th, 2025
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Paris Saint-Germain endured persistent attacks and demonstrated notable resilience on Wednesday to overcome an emboldened Arsenal 2-1, securing their place in the Champions League final and a further opportunity to claim the coveted trophy.
Bereft of their customary ball possession, PSG appeared unsettled initially but devised solutions by exploiting counter-attacks and depending on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to progress with a 3-1 aggregate score.
PSG advanced to the final of Europe’s premier football competition for only the second time in their history, having been the runner-up five years prior, and achieved this in the initial season after the departure of superstar Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid.
The large gap left by Mbappé was not filled by another famous player. This was a big change for a club where the owners had spent a lot of money for over ten years to get big names like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, and Neymar.
The club's new way of doing things helped coach Luis Enrique create a strong and renewed team that played some of the best football in Europe.
Enrique said, "From the very beginning, I said our goal was to work hard enough to be able to make history, and that is still our goal." He continued, "To be the first to win the trophy everyone has been waiting for. This project has changed a lot since last year, and I feel very comfortable here as a coach because the president gives me the freedom and support to build the team we want, adjusting to the market to create a team that gets better every day."
The French club will make another attempt to secure their inaugural Champions League title when they confront Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich.
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi asserted to CBS Sports, "We have unwavering faith in our coach and in our promising, ambitious young players."
With a solitary fixture remaining, our task is far from complete.
Three-time European champion Inter overcame Barcelona with an aggregate score of 7-6 in a semifinal widely regarded as one of the competition's most memorable.
After beating Aston Villa and Liverpool, and also eliminating Arsenal, PSG wanted to avoid losing to Borussia Dortmund again in the semi-finals, like they did last year. They also wanted to get revenge for their loss to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.
In the twenty-seventh minute, Paris Saint-Germain ended the stalemate with a set piece, as the Arsenal defence's clearance of a free kick towards the penalty area's edge inadvertently led to Fabian Ruiz striking a spectacular half-volley into the goal.
Achraf Hakimi executed a precise, curled finish in the seventy-second minute, extending the lead to two goals before Bukayo Saka narrowed the deficit for the Gunners.
Early in their recent London match, Arsenal encountered significant difficulties, primarily due to their inability to match PSG's midfield intensity, which ultimately resulted in a 1-0 defeat.
This time, with the return of midfielder Thomas Partey providing a boost, the Gunners initiated 61 attacking plays, in contrast to PSG’s 26.
The visiting team quickly got a reward for playing better when Declan Rice jumped high but missed his header, and Gabriel Martinelli's shot was saved by Donnarumma.
Arsenal dominated PSG on the wings, and threatened once more in the eighth minute when Martin Ødegaard unleashed a powerful low shot from outside the box, compelling Donnarumma to make another impressive save.
PSG were largely confined to seeking opportunities through counterattacks, and these were scarce.
A breakthrough finally materialised in the 17th minute when, finding space on the left, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cut inside onto his right foot and unleashed a precisely curved shot, characteristic of his style, which struck the post.
Subsequently, Paris Saint-Germain were unable to exploit a misjudged pass from William Saliba, with Désiré Doué subsequently producing a tame effort directly at Raya.
Shortly after the hour mark, Arsenal had another promising opportunity when Saka delivered a precisely curled shot that appeared destined for the top corner, but Donnarumma fully extended himself to parry the ball away.
Subsequently, Vitinha failed to convert a penalty awarded following a VAR review for a handball by Myles Lewis-Skelly. However, PSG quickly extended their advantage when Hakimi slotted the ball into the net after receiving an assist from substitute Ousmane Dembélé.
Arsenal persisted in their attack until the match concluded, with Saka narrowing the deficit in the 76th minute.
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