Champions League: Dembélé's lightning goal decides semi-final first leg against Arsenal
Paris Saint-Germain is just one step away from the Champions League final in Munich. Thanks to an early goal from former Dortmund player Ousmane Dembélé, the French champions secured a 1-0 (1-0) victory against Arsenal in London in a mostly high-quality semifinal match.
Dembélé scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute, giving his team an excellent starting position for the return leg on May 7 (9:00 p.m./DAZN). He also ensured a successful revenge for the 2-0 defeat in the Champions League's league phase. Arsenal will have to improve once again to deny the strong Parisians a place in the final on May 31 in the Bavarian capital.
The match began with a minute's silence for the late Pope Francis. It was the last quiet moment in the sold-out Emirates Stadium with 60,000 spectators. From the very beginning, the teams went all out.
No feeling each other out, no waiting, no hesitation – the highly talented players on both sides tried to apply pressure. But only PSG had success – and they did so with their first shot. With his 33rd competitive goal, former Dortmund player Dembélé put his team ahead from 15 meters out after a pass from Georgia's €70 million signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The goal had an impact on Arsenal. The Londoners were suddenly unsettled. They barely managed to win the ball back and couldn't make any clear moves forward.
The visitors dominated the game, repeatedly putting their opponents under pressure with their extreme pressing, and their attacking trio of Dembélé, Desire Doué, and Kwarazchelia repeatedly sought the finishing touch. All players worked hard at the back.
It wasn't until about 20 minutes later that Arsenal began to get into the game better. However, the Italian national goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal didn't pose any real threat at first.
The 19-year-old super-talent Doué (32') even had a chance to increase the lead for the French champions before halftime, but was denied by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya's quick reaction. Fabian's subsequent shot hit the post and the Spaniard was ruled offside. The Premier League runners-up had a chance to equalize just before halftime, but Donnarumma saved Gabriel Martinelli's shot (45').
The second half began just as spectacularly as the first. Mikel Merino headed in a free kick (46') – but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Nevertheless, Arsenal were now fully on the attack, and the Parisians were increasingly being forced into defensive action. Leandro Trossard (56') had the Londoners' next chance, but Donnarumma was there again.
As time went on, the Londoners' strength waned. The Parisians stood firm and had several chances of their own. Gonçalo Ramos hit the bar of the Arsenal goal in the 86th minute.
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