Paris Saint-Germain will have a chance to go back-to-back as their quest for consecutive Champions League titles continues after drawing 1-1 against Bayern Munich on Wednesday to advance 6-5 on aggregate. Ousmane Dembele scored less than three minutes into the match via an assist from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and the PSG midfield and defense took over from there to keep Bayern under wraps at home. Harry Kane did add a goal of his own to keep Bayern's streak of scoring in every match alive in the 94th minute of play, but there wasn't enough time for it to spark a true comeback.
The nine goals in the first leg provided an expectation that the second leg would be similarly high scoring, but with the return of Fabian Ruiz to the starting XI and the exuberance of Willian Pacho in defense, Bayern weren't able to get into their stride. With Luis Enrique being able to ensure that his side are fresh when it matters, they've now booked their place in Budapest, where they'll face Arsenal in the final on May 30 at the Puskas Arena.
Bayern Munich did have a penalty shout denied during the match when a ball struck Joao Neves' hand, but it didn't go to a VAR review. But even outside of that, PSG were far and away the better team, showing their flexibility. Even without Achraf Hakimi, Warren Zaire-Emery stood in at right back as Bayern's danger was limited to only a few stretches during the game.
PSG will be chasing history there as no team has won back-to-back Champions League finals since Real Madrid took three straight in 2015-18, but this is a team with similar star power as Dembele and Kvaratskhelia are at the peak of their powers while being supported by a strong supporting cast.
Last season, Luis Enrique already accomplished something that only Pep Guardiola has, winning a treble that included a Champions League title with two different clubs. Being able to accomplish the feat with Barcelona and PSG, even after an offseason that included an extended run of games thanks to the Club World Cup, Enrique was able to manage his squad to keep them fresh at this point.
"It's fantastic, and it's amazing to be in back-to-back finals. Erique is the best asset, the best coach in the world, and as a person, he's amazing. The way he manages the players day to day is amazing," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said about Enrique's leadership following the match.
From tactical shifts with Nuno Mendes getting a yellow card early in the match to needing to go to his emergency right back in Zaire-Emery, Enrique has built PSG for this moment, and they're where they need to be facing Arsenal.
He did what he could, scoring yet again from an acute angle to push Bayern Munich for a comeback, but Harry Kane was not able to make it to the Champions League final for the second time in his career. With his 14th goal in only 13 Champions League games, Kane has been a driving force for Bayern Munich and will be looked upon for England to look to win the World Cup. He's still a favorite for the Ballon d'Or, but a Champions League title would not only have been a crowning achievement on his career as one of the greatest goal scorers in history, but it would've also made Kane the overwhelming favorite if England can outdo France at the World Cup.
Now 32, his window with Bayern Munich is still open, but this will be a moment that stings as he looks to get to the top of the European game.
After winning the first Champions League title in club history last season, PSG won't have to wait long for a chance to win another after drawing 1-1 with Bayern Munich on Wednesday. They'll now face Arsenal in the final in Budapest, but this is a team in their stride under Luis Enrique, and it will take a heroic effort to stop them.
Bayern have now scored in all 51 matches that they've played this season, as Harry Kane got just enough space to find the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time. There isn't much time, but this will make the last few minutes interesting.
Bayenr have been able to finally test Matvey Safonov in net, but coming in the 88th minute of play, this feels like too little too late. Bayen needs two goals in a few minutes just to force extra time but instead, they're set to be shut out for the first time this season.
Bayern have been dealing with injuries, but the attack has been anonymous so far in this match. Luis Diez has tried to make things happen, but with so many of their core players being handled and Lennart Karl just coming back from an injury of his own, PSG have had more depth to see out the match.
This one is a bit of a surprise, but it's likely down to fitness for why Kim Min-jae is coming into the match. These are the needed changes for Bayern as the clock ticks toward the 70th minute.
Bayern ready their first change and it's one that's needed. No matter where Davies is coming on the pitch, he's someone who can help push the pace of the game. PSG are feeling too comfortable, so Vincent Kompany has to break that up for his side to have a chance.
Willian Pacho has been the aggressor in defense, being able to keep Bayern from having strong chances in the middle of the park, and someone like Alphonso Davies may have to enter sooner than later to add more pressure.
Fabian Ruiz's return to the midfield has made a difference as PSG have had much more control in the second leg of play. There are 45 more minutes to go, but if things don't change, PSG will be in the Champions League final for the second consecutive season.
What this half has lacked in goals, it has more than made up for in drama, but Bayern will need something different in the second half of play. Trailing by two goals on aggregate, they'll need something to change, but time is running out.
Nuno Mendes handled the ball already on a yellow card, but a free kick went PSG's way. Due to it only being a review for a booking rather than a penalty or a sending off, it isn't a moment that could go to VAR, but then Joao Neves committed another hand ball in the box that wasn't reviewed. Very strange decisions and tensions are rising as Tah has now received a yellow card.
Shooters shoot as they say, PSG and Bayern have both taken three shots in the match, but Bayern's have either hit defenders or gone off target with none testing Safonov in the match. Possession and expected goals are even, but Bayern will need another special moment to reignite this game as 19 minutes is now the second longest goal drought in this two legged tie.
In the first leg, PSG were able to score three unanswered goals before Bayern drew within a goal, and now trailing within two minutes, Vincent Kompany's men will want to get a goal sooner rather than later. PSG left back Nuno Mendes is already on a yellow card, which will feel like an advantage, but if Bayern loses track of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia one more time in the match, this could be out of sight. Tensions will rise for the longer that the German giants go without a goal.
PSG are already off the mark via Ousmane Dembele, and Bayern's deficit has now grown to two goals. Two minutes and twenty seconds are off the clock, is this about to be a scoring explosion to equal the first leg?
Despite the spectacular 5-4 win that took place last week in Paris, the home game might become a crucial factor ahead of the second leg, especially with a key player like Achraf Hakimi injured. Pick: Bayern Munich 2, PSG 1.
There is always time for a healthy debate around who the best forward is on the planet, who might deserve the Ballon d'Or and whether any of them is particularly clutch. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia absolutely belongs in those, but when we attempt to delineate the best on the planet, it is hard not to dive down a rabbit hole of counting stats, trophies won and big game performances. All valid, but amid that, there is one question that often goes missing: how does a footballer make you feel?
And right now, there is no one who this column more eagerly anticipates seeing in action than Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Check out more of what James Benge has to say about the PSG star here:
Harry Kane -- The England captain has been one of the game's most reliable goal scorers for much of his career now, his consistency almost keeping him under the radar as he nears the end of a career-best season that could catapult him into the Ballon d'Or race if a few more bounces go his way. After a very long wait, things seem to finally be swinging Harry Kane's way and with a return to the Champions League final within reach, expect him to have a say along the way. -- Pardeep Cattry
Luis Diaz -- It felt like PSG couldn't find a single answer for Diaz's outside-to-in runs in the first leg. With Harry Kane and Michael Olise both inclined to drop deep, having someone whose first instinct is to attack the space behind the backline promises to be critical, especially when they are as good as the Bayern No.7. -- James Benge
Michael Olise -- I think there are no doubts on who is the best player at the moment around Europe. Even in the first leg, he scored an outstanding goal that helped the side coached by Vincent Kompany to secure a result that can be overturned in the second leg in Munich. Playing in front of their fans might become a crucial factor for their road to the final in Budapest. -- Francesco Porzio
Manuel Neuer -- The more things change, the more they stay the same, and in a match where star-studded attackers, who will make their presence felt from start to finish, my eyes are on the keepers. Facing Real Madrid, Neuer was able to roll back the clock, making nine saves, and while Bayern doesn't need that kind of performance in order to win this clash with the Parsiains, just making one save that he's not expected to could be enough to make a difference. Big moments need big players, and I have faith that Bayern's attackers will do the job, but they still need assistance from the defense. -- Chuck Booth
It's a massive challenge for PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery as he'll be asked to fill in for the injured Achraf Hakimi at right back, but the first-choice PSG midfield will also be back to balance things with Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha back in the starting XI. Alphonso Davies will also start on the bench for Bayern Munich, with Konrad Laimer starting the match, but these are strong lineups from each side for what will be an exciting game.
Bayern XI: Neuer, Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Olise, Musiala, Luis DIaz, Kane
PSG XI: Safonov, Mendes, Pacho, Marquinhos, Zaire-Emery, Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz, Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue
Bayern Munich XI: Manuel Neuer; Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Konrad Laimer; Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic; Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz; Harry Kane.
PSG XI: Matvey Safonov; Warren Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha; Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz; Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Just a few hours until the Champions League final will be set, but no one will be rushing to that moment, considering the epic clash that is ahead between Bayern Munich and PSG. Some of the biggest stars in soccer will take the pitch in Germany, and no matter what the score is, it will be impossible to count anyone out of the match as even 90 minutes may not be enough to decide this tie.
