After an early Arsenal storm, PSG won the Champions League second leg 2-1 on Wednesday to advance.
Giovanni Donnarumma’s saves kept Arsenal at bay as Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scored to win 3-1 on aggregate. Luis Enrique has united PSG five years after losing to Bayern Munich in the final. After Inter Milan overcame Barcelona 7-6 in a historic semi-final, they will meet them in Munich on May 31.
Donnarumma made two world-class saves before Ruiz hit a fantastic shot and Hakimi sealed the job in the second half as Arsenal started well. Vitinha missed a second-half penalty, but the French champions never panicked and won easily after Bukayo Saka equalized 14 minutes from time.
Arsenal attempted their first Champions League final since 2006 with Saka’s rocket over the crossbar. On Monday, Luis Enrique rested Ousmane Dembele after a muscular injury in the first game and fielded Mikel Merino at false nine.
After three minutes, Declan Rice nearly hit Donnarumma’s right post for Arsenal. After saving Gabriel Martinelli’s low shot, the Italian goalkeeper leapt to block Martin Odegaard’s half-volley from the edge of the box.
PSG threatened on the break after long possessionless spells. Desire Doue missed a great chance by shooting straight at David Raya, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling shot struck the post.
PSG scored against the run of play in the 27th minute. Thomas Partey bungled a set-piece defensive header, passing the ball to Ruiz, who took a great touch and struck a fierce shot past Raya to excite the home crowd. Spanishman scored first Champions League goal in 46 games.
“We’re in the final, we’re in the final,” PSG fans in the Boulogne Kop chanted at the restart as their team played comfortably.
Donnarumma saved Saka with his fingertip in the 64th minute. Vitinha’s poor penalty allowed Raya to save after Myles Lewis-Skelly handballed Hakimi’s shot in the 69th minute. After a one-two with Dembele, who had just come off the bench, Hakimi beat the Arsenal keeper in the 72nd minute to seal the game.
Saka scored four minutes later from a close angle after Jakub Kiwior’s pass bounced off a defender, but his terrible error clinched PSG’s triumph.
