Images from the Champions League semi-final second leg between Paris St Germain and Arsenal, at Parc des Princes, Paris, France, on Wednesday.
IMAGE: Fabian Ruiz scores Paris St Germain’s first goal during the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal at Parc des Princes, Paris, France, on Wednesday. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters
Paris St Germain weathered an early Arsenal storm before marching into the Champions League final with a measured 2-1 second-leg victory on Wednesday to earn them a second shot at Europe’s top title.
Goals by Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi sealed a 3-1 aggregate triumph while a string of vital saves from keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma helped keep Arsenal at bay.
IMAGE: Fabian Ruiz celebrates scoring with PSG teammates Achraf Hakimi and Joao Neves. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Five years after losing to Bayern Munich in the final, PSG have been transformed into a cohesive team unit under coach Luis Enrique, and they will take on Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich after the Serie A side eliminated Barcelona 7-6 in a vintage tie in the other semi-final.
PSG rolled with the punches early on with Donnarumma pulling off a couple of world-class saves as Arsenal got off to a brilliant start before Ruiz delivered a huge blow with a thunderous strike, and Hakimi effectively wrapped it up in the second half.
Vitinha missed a second-half penalty but the French champions never panicked and there was a sense of inevitability about their victory even after Bukayo Saka pulled one back 14 minutes from time.
IMAGE: Achraf Hakimi fires the ball home from the top of the box for Paris St Germain’s second goal. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
With Arsenal pushing for a route back into the contest, Saka blazed a glorious chance over the crossbar as the visitors fell short of reaching a first Champions League final since 2006.
Luis Enrique left Ousmane Dembele on the bench after the France forward only returned to training on Monday following a muscle injury sustained in the first leg, while Arsenal deployed Mikel Merino as a false nine.
Arsenal blasted out of the blocks, carving out the first clear chance inside three minutes, with Declan Rice’s glancing header flashing narrowly past Donnarumma’s right-hand post.
The Italian goalkeeper was soon called into action again, stretching to palm away Gabriel Martinelli’s low effort before making an astonishing, sprawling save to deny Martin Odegaard, whose half-volley from the edge of the area was destined for the bottom corner.
IMAGE: Achraf Hakimi celebrates scoring PSG’s second goal. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
Uncharacteristically shut out of possession for long spells, PSG threatened on the break.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went close as his curling strike rattled the post, while teenager Desire Doue squandered a golden opportunity, tamely firing straight at David Raya when clean through.
Against the run of play, PSG struck in the 27th minute. Thomas Partey misjudged a defensive header from a set-piece, inadvertently flicking the ball into the path of Ruiz, who took an exquisite touch before lashing a fierce drive past Raya to send the home crowd into raptures.
It was the Spaniard’s first goal in 46 Champions League appearances.
IMAGE: Bukayo Saka pulls a goal back for Arsenal, scoring from a tight angle. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters
“We’re in the final, we’re in the final,” PSG’s fans in the Boulogne Kop chanted at the restart as their side played with confidence.
Donnarumma was tested again in the 64th minute and produced a fingertip save to deny Saka.
PSG had a chance to effectively wrap it up in the 69th minute after Myles Lewis-Skelly handballed Hakimi’s shot, but Vitinha’s feeble spot kick allowed Raya to save comfortably.
IMAGE: Paris St Germain players celebrate after the match. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
Hakimi, however, then whipped the ball past the Arsenal keeper in the 72nd minute after a one-two with Dembele, who had just come off the bench, to put the result beyond doubt.
Saka reduced the arrears four minutes later from a tight angle after Jakub Kiwior’s cross took a deflection off a defender but his stunning miss minutes later ensured it would be PSG’s night.
