PSG have sealed their spot in a second consecutive Champions League final after squeezing past Bayern Munich with a 6-5 aggregate win. Arsenal will now face the French side in the 2026 final.
Dembele Strikes Early
Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele picked up where he had left off in Paris, crashing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's low cross past Manuel Neuer to give PSG the lead on the night. That goal proved to be the match winner.
The goalscoring rate slowed down, but controversy did not. Bayern were furious after Nuno Mendes handled the ball while already booked, but the referee deemed it not worthy of a sending off. Joao Neves was then accused of a handball in the box, but again the referee was unmoved.
Bayern Dominate but Fall Short
Bayern dominated large swaths of the game, with Harry Kane firing home late on to give his side hope. But they eventually ran out of time, leaving the German side without a European crown for six years. PSG now have the chance to make it back-to-back titles, just 12 months after ending their long wait for a first European triumph.
After seeing Dembele score twice in Paris, Bayern wanted to keep a close eye on him on home turf. But he escaped their glance just three minutes in. Fabian Ruiz's pass set Kvaratskhelia free down the left, and the Georgian picked out Dembele, who thundered home.
Bayern continued to create opportunities, with Michael Olise twice going close and Matvei Safonov required to deny Jamal Musiala. The hosts were also left incensed after two handball decisions went against them. Following an early booking, Mendes clearly handled the ball, but the referee elected that Konrad Laimer had committed a similar offence earlier in the move.
Vincent Kompany and his players then appealed for another decision as Vitinha's clearance struck Neves, but the referee was unmoved. As per the laws of the game, a touch is not considered a handball if the ball was inadvertently played by a teammate.
Bayern continued to probe throughout the second half, with both Lennart Karl and Laimer seeing powerful efforts deflected away. England captain Harry Kane lashed home in stoppage time, but Kompany's side bowed out having been part of one of the most entertaining two-legged semi-finals in European history.
Final in Budapest
Attention will now turn to the Champions League final on May 30 in Budapest, where Arsenal will take on PSG. It will either be a back-to-back champion or a first-time winner celebrating in Hungary.
