⚽️ ⚽️ Paris Saint-Germain 2- Arsenal 1 ⚽️ ⚽️
Wow! It has been a really long time since I last wrote about Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). If my search was correct, the last time was around two or so years ago.
Yet today, I am writing about them again, because they just scored a huge victory over Arsenal at the Parc des Princes, their home stadium in Paris, in the semifinal for the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. This was something which I originally learned about by a text message from my brother, who let me know what PSG had managed to do by beating Arsenal. They have a shot at winning what would qualify as the biggest championship in franchise history.
What that translates to is that they punched their ticket into the UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, Germany, on Saturday, May 31st. There, they will face the reigning Italian champions Internazionale (Inter Milan). Obviously, that is another very tough challenge.
This is not the first time that PSG has qualified for the UEFA Champions League Final. They did so back in 2019-2020 as well, ultimately falling short to Bayern Munich in the final. They also reached the semifinal in 1994-95, although they did not quite manage to reach the final.
Despite having some of the biggest star power in the sport, with names including Messi and Mbappé and Neymar and Ronaldinho and Beckham, winning the title at the UEFA Champions League has always managed to elude PSG. At least to this point, anyway.
That might change now, however, because of another notable name. That would be Luis Enrique, a Champions League-winning coach who has helped PSG reach this level, despite many doubters. He is a proven winner and is running a system which the players clearly believe in. The results this year are hard to argue with or ignore. They are 90 minutes away from possibly clinching their first ever title at the UEFA Champions League, which would be history.
It began with Spanish central fielder Fabian Ruiz breaking through in the 27th minute. That put PSG up, 1-0.
Despite some close chances after that, PSG was not able to capitalize, and so the score remained 1-0 throughout the rest of the first half and then well into the second.
However, Moroccan right winger Achraf Hakimi then broke through in the 72nd minute, giving PSG a bit of a cushion, at 2-0. At that point, it looked like PSG might have clinched the victory and might cruise the rest of the way.
That did not last long, however.
Arsenal's right winger Bukayo Saka scored a goal in the 75th minute. Suddenly, it was back to a one goal game. Now, Arsenal had some life, and perhaps even momentum.
Still, PSG managed to stave off Arsenal's increasingly desperate attempts for an equalizer. They ultimately did manage to secure the win, as well as their spot in the UEFA Champions League Final later this month.
🔵PSG vs Arsenal (2-1) Extended HIGHLIGHTS | UEFA Champions League Semi-Final
Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Arsenal: player ratings from the Parc des Princes by Ed Aarons at the Parc des Princes Wed 7 May 2025:
Gianluigi Donnarumma was outstanding again while Myles Lewis-Skelly struggled, conceding a penalty for handball
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/07/paris-saint-germain-2-1-arsenal-player-ratings-from-the-parc-des-princes
Champions League as it happened: PSG dispose Arsenal to head to final ESPN May 7, 2025:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44822627/uefa-champions-league-semifinal-live-updates-paris-saint-germain-vs-arsenal
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