Paris Saint-Germain have secured their place in the UEFA Champions League final after defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Parc des Princes, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory. This triumph marks PSG as only the third Ligue 1 side to reach multiple Champions League finals.
Holding a narrow advantage from the first leg, PSG faced a determined Arsenal side who were looking to overturn their poor record of never progressing from a European knockout tie after losing the first leg at home.
Arsenal started with intense energy, creating several early chances. Declan Rice headed wide, and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced into two outstanding saves within the opening ten minutes, denying Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.
However, PSG weathered the initial storm and showcased their own attacking prowess. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia�s curling shot struck the post, a warning sign of what was to come. The opening goal arrived courtesy of a stunning strike from Fabi�n Ruiz. Thomas Partey�s header from a Vitinha set-piece fell into the path of the midfielder, who brilliantly controlled the ball before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot past David Raya for his maiden Champions League goal. Raya then made a fine save to deny Bradley Barcola.
After the break, Arsenal searched for inspiration, and Bukayo Saka came close, but Donnarumma once again produced an incredible save to tip his effort wide.
The tie appeared to swing further in PSG�s favour when Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially penalised for handball. However, Raya redeemed the perceived injustice by comfortably saving Vitinha�s subsequent penalty, keeping Arsenal�s hopes alive.
But that hope proved short-lived as Achraf Hakimi clinically dispatched a right-footed shot past Raya, punishing indecisive defending from Partey and putting PSG firmly in control.
Just when Arsenal seemed defeated, Leandro Trossard outmuscled Marquinhos and set up Saka for a point-blank finish, giving the Gunners a glimmer of hope. However, Saka then squandered a golden opportunity to level the score on the night, missing a wide-open goal from Riccardo Calafiori�s cross.
PSG held firm to secure the victory and their place in the Champions League final, joining Stade de Reims and Olympique de Marseille as the only French clubs to reach multiple finals in the competition. This marks their second final appearance, following their 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in 2020.
For Arsenal, this result signifies their sixth European knockout exit after losing the first leg at home, and Mikel Arteta�s side now faces the prospect of a fifth consecutive season without a major trophy.
