Paris Saint-Germain have booked their place in the Champions League final after a 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate) victory over Arsenal on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. The Parisians went ahead only 27 minutes into the match after a rocket of a shot from Fabian Ruiz following a set piece that Arsenal couldn't clear. His first Champions League goal ever, Ruiz made sure it was a memorable one. Even with Ousmane Dembele on the bench, their attack had enough to push the Gunners, but Dembele would still make his presence known, assisting Achraf Hakimi for PSG's second goal.
The Gunners were able to get a goal back via Bukayo Saka, who capitalized on a defensive breakdown, but it was too little, too late after Gianluigi Donnarumma's massive game in net. With the victory, PSG's treble hopes live on while they look to be the first team to win a treble involving Champions League since Manchester City in 2022-23, but to do that, they'll have to triumph in the Coupe de France final and also defeat Inter in Munich on May 31 (which you can watch on Paramount+.) to lift their first Champions League title ever.
Arsenal created plenty of chances, taking 19 shots for an xG of 3.16, but they only put four of those on target. The best of the chances came to Saka, but Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino were held to only four combined shots. Without a recognized striker, Arsenal weren't able to create enough to push PSG, while the Parisians' finishing was on display. Even Vitinha missing their first penalty since April of 2024 wasn't enough to throw PSG off in the match. The defense did just enough, and a young side could now make history.
Youth can be taken as a disadvantage, but for players like Desire Doue and Joao Neves, they don't have the weight of PSG's history on them. They're able to go out and leave everything on the pitch, while for Arsenal, this will now mark five seasons without a trophy. Already losing out on the Premier League title to Liverpool, now it's down to what's next for Mikel Arteta and the Gunners to bounce back from this disappointment.
PSG has made it to their first Champions League final since 2020, when they lost to Bayern Munich after defeating Arsenal 2-1 on Wednesday. Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi's goals were enough to push the Parisians through to the final, where they'll meet Inter on May 31. Chasing their first UCL title ever and a treble, this could be an extra special season for Luis Enrique.
You can never say never, but it'll take a lot for Arsenal to come back in the clash when they need two goals.
It's not over yet! The Gunners have gotten a goal back after quite a deflection that Bukayo Saka would coach and push into the back of the net. Arsenal has 13 minutes to get two more goals.
Arsenal had to open things up, and PSG made them pay. A missed clearance gave Ousmane Dembele the ball and he got it to Hakimi for the smooth finish and Raya was helpless in the net. Now up three goals on aggregate, this could be too much for Arsenal to overcome.
After a VAR review, PSG has been awarded a penalty due to a handball on Thomas Partey. Vitinha wouldn't convert it, however, giving PSG their first miss of the season in all competitions. His creep up didn't fool Raya who saved it, keeping this in reach.
He delivered quite a strike to try and catch Donnarumma off guard but that's a tough task these days as the Italian stood strong to defend his net and the two goal lead.
And PSG has regained control of the match. Arsenal will need to shake things up because this is getting a bit too comfortable for the home side.
No changes for either team so far but if there's not an early goal for Arsenal, more attackers like Leandro Trossard could begin to enter the fray as the next goal could determine the tie.
45 minutes down, 45 minutes to go. Arsenal didn't have a bad performance, all things considered. Donnarumma was just better in net for PSG. There's plenty of time to get back into the match but if Arsenal allows another goal past Raya, a three goal disadvantage could be too much to overcome.
After allowing the goal to PSG, Arsenal has been able to steady themselves but the issue is that the Gunners will need to score soon because even if PSG takes a shot from a poor area, their individual brilliance is so great that it just may end up in the back of the net.
Fabian Ruiz rips one into the back of the net and doubles their aggregate lead. Following a set piece chance, the ball fell to Ruiz and he got it past Raya with a thing of beauty for his first ever Champions League goal. The goal was from a shot that was only a .04 xG from where he took it, but ended up as a .54 xG on the goal due to how good the strike was from the midfielder.
There may not be a goal yet, but things are coming close with Kvaratskhelia crashing his shot off of David Raya's post. We're only through 17 minutes of play, and quite a lot is happening back and forth.
That was a painful one but if he can walk and use his arms, the Italian keeper will play. One of the most important players for PSG, this will be something to watch.
Arsenal's captain skipped a shot off the pitch and again, Donnarumma is there to make the save but it's a painful one. The PSG keeper will undergo treatment after hitting his shoulder on the pitch.
It's again set pieces causing chaos for PSG with Gabriel Martinelli firing a strong shot on target. Donnarumma was there to stop the shot but in the early going, it's Arsenal pushing the pace in Paris.
PSG and Arsenal will have a lot to live up to after yesterday's semifinal match but the stage is set for magic.
PSG will need to wait a little longer than the fourth minute of play to score an opening goal this time around, but when Dembele finds the back of the net again in the first half, relief will wash over all of the home fans in the stadium. Arsenal will create some tension by scoring themselves but it won't be enough as PSG nets an insurance goal to take care of things in regulation. Pick: PSG 2, Arsenal 1
With Barcelona falling to Inter, PSG is now the final team standing with a chance at a treble. Having already won Ligue 1, and playing in the Coupe De France final on May 24, PSG may be three wins from accomplishing that feat, but it won't be an easy thing to do by any means. Each team that made it to this stage suffered disappointment at some point in their journey, but Enrique will want to avoid Barcelona's fate of suffering that in the Champions League. The pressure can be saved for something else because with not having a UCL title in their history, a win in this competition will mean more to PSG than any other trophy that they could capture this season. That only adds more pressure to the team but pressure can also create diamonds when applied properly.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG: The key to making this PSG team tick has been the arrival of Kvaratskhelia from Napoli to close out the January transfer window. The Georgian plays like he was built for this PSG system and while he may only have four goals and five assists in 22 appearances for the club in all competitions, four of those goal contributions have come in Champions League play.
When PSG needs him most, Kvaratskhelia has been able to step up and make things happen, which will again be the case playing at home here. Facing Arsenal's defense, focused on winning individual duals, Kvaratskhelia's brilliance on the dribble can break the game open if he wins his matchups.
On the PSG side, after Kylian Mbappe left for Real Madrid, this team has been able to reinvent themselves and everyone knows what they need to do under Enrique. With his birthday happening the day after the match the team has a chance to make it an extra special occasion but having been a manager who has overseen plenty of matches with high stakes, Enrique won't let this get bigger than it is.
"We're here because we deserve to be, we won the first game and tomorrow's objective is to win the second. There are a lot of potential keys, but I think we have to show the confidence that our supporters have shown us, in terms of effort and emotional intelligence," Enrique said. "There will be details we can control. We're going to have to stay true to the ideas we've had so far. We're going to go into this match and build on our strengths. If things don't go our way, we'll be competitive enough to turn things around."
The stage couldn't be bigger for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, given how high the stakes are in this match. Arsenal has won the FA Cup under Arteta, but having come up short in the Premier League title race multiple times, this is a moment that could become his crowning achievement as manager of the Gunners.
"Yeah, one of the most beautiful, for sure. I mean, again, one win away from being in the final. We cannot ask for anything else," Arteta said about the occasion. "Let's not do the talking [now], let's do it tomorrow on that pitch at 9pm [CET] when the game starts. Show our best, best, best, best version and win the game."
To win, he'll need a better showing from Martin Odegaard, but Arteta will have done his best to prepare the Gunners for what's to come.
The first leg was quite a chess match between these two teams as PSG started quickly with Ousmane Dembele scoring only four minutes into the game. From there, it was about 20 minutes of dominance from the Parisians until Arsenal's defense caught up. While the Gunners created the better chances of the teams after that, the opening goal loomed large and was enough to keep them from bringing things to Paris level.
The Gunners may need to run an unorthodox striker but they've gotten used to what Merino can bring leading the line. Partey returns from his suspension to offer a boost in midfield which will allow Declan Rice to roam more in the second leg of action.
Arsenal starting XI: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Martinelli
This will come as a major blow to Luis Enrique's side due to Dembele scoring 25 goals so far in 2025, the most of any player. His connection with Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has been critical to PSG's success, but Bradley Barcola will now be called upon in his absence from the XI.
PSG starting XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
Paris is ready for the second leg, but Ousmane Dembele will begin the match on the bench after leaving the first leg with a slight injury. Desire Doue will deputize at striker while Mikel Merino will lead the line for the Gunners. Boosted by the return of Thomas Partey, Arsenal will push for an early goal to turn this tie on its head.
