May 9th, 2025
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Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended against many attacks and showed great flexibility on Wednesday to stop and beat a strong Arsenal team 2-1. This win allowed them to reach the Champions League final and have another opportunity to win the title they really want.
PSG, who usually have the ball more, did not have much possession and looked unsure at the start. However, they managed to find a way to win 3-1 in total by using quick attacks and good saves from their goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG played in the final of the best European tournament for only the second time. The first time was five years ago, when they finished second. This final was in the first year after their star player, Kylian Mbappé, left to play for Real Madrid.
Instead of another famous player, a large space was left after Mbappé left the club. This was a big change for a club where owners had spent a lot of money for over ten years to bring in famous players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, and Neymar.
The club's new approach helped coach Luis Enrique create a strong team that played some of the best football in Europe.
“From the beginning, I said our goal was to work hard enough to be able to make history, and that is still our goal,” Enrique said. “We want to be the first to win the trophy we have waited a long time for. This project has changed since last year, and I feel comfortable here as a coach because the president gives me the freedom and support to build the team we want. We are changing to fit the market to build a team that gets better every day.”
The French team will attempt to win its first Champions League prize when it plays against Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich.
The president of PSG, Nasser al-Khelaifi, told CBS Sports that he believes in their coach and players, describing them as talented, young, and eager. He added that they strongly support the team and the club.
With one match remaining, our task is far from complete.
Inter, who have won the European championship three times, beat Barcelona with a total score of 7-6 over two matches. This semifinal was one of the best in the competition's history.
PSG beat Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Arsenal. But they lost to Borussia Dortmund at this stage last year and were beaten by Bayern Munich in the final in 2020.
PSG scored the first goal in the 27th minute from a set piece after the Arsenal defense sent a free kick to the edge of the box. The ball came back to Fabian Ruiz, who hit a great shot into the goal.
Achraf Hakimi scored a precise goal in the 72nd minute to make the score 2-0 before Bukayo Saka scored a goal for the Gunners.
Arsenal had problems early last week in London because they could not handle PSG's strong midfield, and they lost 1-0.
This time, with midfielder Thomas Partey back, the Gunners had 61 attacks, but PSG only had 26.
The visiting team quickly got a good chance when Declan Rice jumped high but missed the ball with his head, and Gabriel Martinelli’s shot was stopped by the goalkeeper Donnarumma.
Arsenal was much stronger than PSG on the sides of the field, and almost scored again in the eighth minute when Martin Ødegaard shot the ball hard and low from outside the box, and Donnarumma had to make a great save.
PSG had to wait for chances to attack quickly after defending, and there were not many.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 17th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, finding space on the left, cut inside onto his right foot and unleashed a characteristic, precisely placed shot that struck the post.
PSG didn't take advantage of William Saliba's bad pass. Then Désiré Doué shot weakly, and it went straight to Raya.
Arsenal had another good chance after about 60 minutes when Saka shot towards the top corner, but Donnarumma saved the ball.
Then, Vitinha missed a penalty kick after video review showed Myles Lewis-Skelly touched the ball with his hand. Soon after, PSG scored again. Hakimi kicked the ball into the corner of the goal, helped by Ousmane Dembélé, who had just come into the game.
Arsenal continued to attack until the end and reduced the difference in score with a goal from Saka in the 76th minute.
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