The UEFA Champions League has one semifinal left to settle, with Paris Saint-Germain hosting Arsenal on May 7 for a spot in the 2024-25 final.
PSG, the perennial champions in France, hold an edge after winning the first leg last week in London. As a result, Arsenal must go to Paris and win in order to seal a place in this year’s final, which will be held on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Inter Milan awaits, as the Italian champions claimed a 7-6 aggregate win over Barcelona in a jaw-dropping second leg on May 6 that went to extra time.
Arsenal will be under some pressure for reasons beyond the scoreline. The Gunners entered the 2024-25 campaign with high hopes, but even as Manchester City stumbled in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side had to watch Liverpool run away with the title instead. Having been knocked out of all domestic cups, it’s Champions League or bust for Arsenal.
PSG downs Arsenal to advance to Champions League final
It wasn’t a legendary performance, but PSG was good enough on the day to win Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal, defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the second leg and 3-1 on aggregate.
Fabián Ruíz’s first-half thunderbolt set the hosts on their way, and Achraf Hakimi’s second-half finish turned out to be the game-winner. Bukayo Saka’s 76th minute goal gave the Gunners a chance, and the England winger sent a shot over an open net shortly thereafter, but ultimately the French champions were better team over the two legs.
PSG vs. Arsenal: Champions League highlights
PSG vs. Arsenal: Saka pulls one back in Champions League semifinal
It might be too late, but Arsenal has finally gotten on the board. Bukayo Saka has the finish after Leandro Trossard won the ball with some pressure.
In truth, it’s a series of uncharacteristically clumsy stumbles and slips for PSG, leaving Saka with a very easy job of simply guiding the ball over the line to make it 3-1 on aggregate in the 76th minute.
Can Arsenal stage a comeback? They have 13 minutes plus stoppage time to score two goals without reply. It’s asking a lot, but PSG has maybe opted for an overly conservative posture since Hakimi’s goal.
PSG vs. Arsenal: Hakimi goal increases PSG aggregate lead
Well, so much for Raya’s heroics helping Arsenal stage a comeback. Achraf Hakimi — whose shot attempt won the penalty moments ago — now buries a second goal, curling the ball around Jakub Kiwior in the 72nd minute.
It’s another moment to regret from Thomas Partey, and another clinical PSG finish. That makes the scoreline 2-0 in this second leg, and 3-0 on aggregate. It’s hard to see Arsenal having any shot at a comeback now.
PSG vs. Arsenal: Raya saves Vitinha penalty kick
After a long stretch of play at the other end, referee Felix Zwayer has gotten a call from VAR to check for a possible penalty in PSG’s favor. Zwayer’s check on the monitor is swift, but it surprised the broadcast team by focusing on an incident that saw Achraf Hakimi’s shot graze Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly’s hand.
No one seemed to suspect it at the time, but that’s been given as a spot kick. However, PSG wasted the chance to finish Arsenal off.
Vitinha’s slow walk-up — an attempt to fool the goalkeeper into revealing his intentions — backfired. Vitinha ended up offering a meek shot to Raya’s left, and the Spanish international was able to leap over and save the effort.
PSG vs. Arsenal: Halftime sees PSG up 2-0 on aggregate
Fabián Ruíz’s stunner in the 27th minute has given PSG a 1-0 second-leg lead over Arsenal in this Champions League semifinal. That gives the hosts a 2-0 aggregate lead, meaning that the Gunners have to score at least twice without conceding to force extra time, and would need a third goal to win outright.
Arsenal has had a rotten run in recent semifinals in various competitions, going winless in their last six attempts to reach a major final (including four losses). More alarmingly, they did not score in any of those matches. If that trend doesn’t rapidly change, PSG will be playing Inter later this month in the Champions League final.
PSG vs. Arsenal: Fabián goal makes it 2-0 on aggregate
PSG has struck a potentially critical goal, with Fabián clobbering a shot from outside the box to put the hosts ahead 1-0 on the night, and 2-0 on aggregate.
Arsenal had spent the opening 27 minutes putting PSG under immense pressure, but beyond one Gianluigi Donnarumma wonder-save had little to show for it. They’ve paid the price for that now, with the Spanish midfielder pouncing on a loose ball following a free kick.
Thomas Partey’s clearing header wasn’t great, and neither was Gabriel Martinelli’s attempt to poke the ball away from Fabián, but it’s also a wonderful strike from 19 yards.
Arsenal must now score at least two more goals than PSG from this point forward to even force extra time, much less claim a victory.
PSG vs. Arsenal: Champions League semifinal kicks off
The Parc des Princes is roaring as PSG kicks off against Arsenal with a slender 1-0 aggregate lead in this Champions League semifinal.
It looks like PSG is starting out in more of a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bradley Barcola in a central role, and Désiré Doué out on the right. We’ll see if that holds, or if Luis Enrique will shuffle things up as this proceeds.
PSG vs. Arsenal lineups: Champions League semifinal starting 11
Arsenal has announced the following lineup, with a 4-3-3 formation expected from manager Mikel Arteta:
David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard; Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Martinelli
The major news for PSG is that Ousmane Dembélé, who scored the only goal in the first leg, is only available off the bench after sustaining a possible hamstring injury later in that match. Manager Luis Enrique has named Bradley Barcola, who replaced Dembélé at the Emirates Stadium last week, will step in as part of the front line in what is expected to be a 4-3-3 formation.
Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián; Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Expected positions written from right to left.
PSG vs. Arsenal Champions League: What is aggregate score?
After the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal, Paris Saint-Germain leads Arsenal 1-0, having won in London last Tuesday. France attacker Ousmane Dembélé struck early, picking out the bottom corner after being set up by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. PSG then used some aggressive pressing tactics to suffocate the Gunners, who suffered just their fourth home loss all season.
That leaves PSG with a 1-0 aggregate lead heading into the second leg. A win or draw by any scoreline will send the French powerhouse through to the final against Inter Milan on May 31.
An Arsenal one-goal win, no matter the goal total, would force extra time (the away goal rule is no longer in use). Should Arsenal win by more than one goal, the Premier League side would advance to the final instead.
What time is PSG vs. Arsenal? Champions League kickoff
The UEFA Champions League semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal is set to kick off at 3 p.m. ET, from Parc des Princes in Paris, France.
How to watch PSG vs. Arsenal Champions League semifinal: TV, stream
Time: 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Location: Parc des Princes (Paris, France)
TV: CBS (English), Univision, TUDN (both Spanish)
Stream: Paramount+, Fubo
Watch the Champions League semifinal between PSG and Arsenal on Fubo