Paris Saint-Germain earned the chance to defend their Champions League trophy in the final against Arsenal after a 1-1 win with Bayern Munich secured a 6-5 aggregate victory in the semi-final.
After last week’s 5-4 thriller in the first leg in Paris, this more defensive display was equally impressive by the holders, who went ahead after three minutes through Ousmane Dembele, with Harry Kane’s added-time finish coming too late for the hosts to mount a serious comeback.
In truth, Kane – alongside Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – was unable to provide the same threat he did eight days ago as the Bundesliga giants were frusrated by the Parisiens, who also missed a number of chances to extend their lead.
All eyes will now be on Budapest on May 30 as PSG as they defend their status as European champions against Arsenal, who are bidding for Champions League glory for the first time after beating Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
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Dembele lands first blow to extend PSG lead
It seemed as though we were in for another cracker only three minutes in when Dembele found the net after Fabian Ruiz sent Khvicha Kvaratskhelia clear down the left, with the Ballon d’Or winner slotting home the cutback with ease to increase PSG’s advantage to two goals.
Bayern began to find their feet after about 10 minutes with Harry Kane and Michael Olise both seeing good chances blocked before the third member of their deadly front three Luis Diaz saw a shot fly over.
Olise continued to test Nuno Mendes at left-back as the winger drove inside the box before cutting inside and bending a trademark finish just above the crossbar and onto the site netting.
Two huge flashpoints left Bayern’s players and staff incensed, firstly when Mendes avoided a second yellow card for an innocuous foul before Vitinha cleared the ball straight into team-mate Joao Neves’ hand – with neither going the hosts’ way.
Neves then forced a wonderful save from point-blank save from Manuel Neuer with the midfielder’s header back across goal tipped away by the German stopper.
PSG hold firm to frustrate Bayern
It was undoubtedly a more contained and controlled performance from PSG who continually kept Bayern at bay before carving out two excellent chances on the break, with Desire Doue and Kvaratskhelia forcing saves from Neuer from close range.
This PSG back four had kept five consecutive away clean sheets before this game and their perhaps underrated defensive solidity was on show as the likes of Olise and Kane struggled to show the kind of threat they had in previous rounds and, with 25 minutes to play, the holders looked relatively comfortable.
Luis Diaz fashioned Bayern’s best chance of the half when he controlled Alphonso Davies’ low cross from the left before volleying the ball low to the left which Matvey Safonov had to parry, before the PSG stopper easily collected a tame Olise shot despite a promising opening.
Kane goal comes too late
Some wonderful quick feet from Kvaratskhelia up the other end created a chance for Doue to find the net but the Frenchman’s shot could only ripple the side netting. It was Bayern who needed two goals, but the closing stages saw PSG on the front foot for another, with the ball not quite falling for Kvara inside the box before Bradley Barcola saw another chance go begging.
A brilliant touch and run by Diaz found its way to Lennart Karl who couldn’t get a convincing shot away, before Neuer was called into action once again to deny Barcola as the hosts’ hopes began to fade.
Kane did finally find the breakthrough and set up a nervy finish after the England striker collected Davies’ pass inside before caressing a lovely strike into the back of the net – but with only a minute of added time to play, it proved too little, too late as the Ligue 1 giants booked their ticket to Budapest.
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