Holders PSG beat Bayern Munich to reach the final of the Champions League with Arsenal | Football News

Paris Saint-Germain have won the Champions League against Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in the second leg as Bayern Munich won 6-5.

PSG burst onto the counter after three minutes on Wednesday and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele put Luis Enrique’s visitors ahead on the night with two goals from the spot.

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PSG did very well to deal with Bayern’s threats, despite Harry Kane’s stoppage time.

“It was a special game, another magical night in Munich against a great team,” PSG player Desire Doue told Canal Plus.

“These are the types of games we’ve dreamed of playing since we were little. Now we’re going to have fun as a team.”

Returning to Munich’s Allianz Arena, the venue of their big win against Inter Milan at the end of last year, PSG underlined their long-awaited victory in the competition.

The French giants will be favorites to lift the trophy for the second consecutive season when they face Premier League leaders Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest.

They are hoping to win the second consecutive title since 1990, after Real Madrid.

Bayern were angered by the players’ decisions in the first half but lacked the intensity they showed in their 5-4 defeat in the first leg in Paris.

The six-time European champions have yet to reach the final since beating PSG in the 2020 showpiece in Lisbon.

“I can’t be disappointed for too long,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. “Of course, in the end we lost two really tough games against a very good opponent.”

Both teams were playing their 52nd game in all competitions – not counting last summer’s World Club Championship – but both looked tired.

Very dangerous in the first leg, Bayern were surprisingly strong, Michael Olise in particular had a restful night.

In the midst of a record-breaking season, Bayern’s fourth defeat in all competitions will be devastating for a club that wonders what could have been.

With Bayern already reigning champions of the Bundesliga and PSG still in contention for the Ligue 1 title, both sides made significant changes to their fixture list at the weekend.

But both teams made just one change to their starting XIs compared to last week in Paris. Only PSG were forced, with Fabian Ruiz replacing the injured Achraf Hakimi.

The high-octane first leg was widely hailed as one of the best in the tournament’s history and Wednesday’s game delivered the same early on.

Ruiz, making his first European appearance since January, put Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left with a superb ball.

The Georgian latched on to the pass, burning his marker before crossing for the well-placed Dembele to slot home.

Bayern conceded after just 36 seconds against Real Madrid in the quarterfinals and fought to win but looked stunned by the early goal this time.

Olise, Kane and Joshua Kimmich all scored in the first half hour, ending promising attacks.

Bayern rounded defender Joao Pinheiro, calling for a penalty on the half-hour when Vitinha’s pass hit Joao Neves’ outstretched arm in the box, but their appeal was waved away.

The home fans were already furious when PSG defender Nuno Mendes was not given a second yellow card.

PSG went inches up to make it a second, but Manuel Neuer fired home Neves’ close-range header at the near post.

The home side regained their rhythm shortly before the break, Jamal Musiala forcing a low save from PSG midfielder Matvey Safonov and blasting over the bar.

PSG showed a big part of their game in the second half, staying back to absorb Bayern’s pressure but not losing their threats on the counter.

Neuer saved Kvaratskhelia and Doue to prevent Bayern from conceding.

The Bavarians dominated possession and territory but were unable to break through until Kane scored in his seventh consecutive Champions League game in stoppage time.

There was time to start again, but it was too little, too late for the owners.