Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) took a crucial step towards the UEFA Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their semifinal clash on Tuesday. An early strike from Ousmane Dembele at the Emirates Stadium secured the win for the French side.
Dembele found the net within minutes of kickoff, capitalizing on a swift PSG attack that caught the Gunners off guard. Despite Arsenal’s efforts to level the score, PSG’s composed defense held firm throughout the match.
PSG manager Luis Enrique praised his team’s performance, saying, “We showed the kind of team we are. We tried to play our way and scored the goal early playing that way. We suffered sometimes but could have scored the second goal. The second match is going to be very tough. The result means a little advantage for us. We can go to the final, but there is still one match.”
Arsenal’s coach, Mikel Arteta, remained optimistic despite the setback. “We put so much into the game. It’s halftime, and we have a big chance to be in the final,” he said. “We struggled in the first 15 minutes to get momentum and dominance, but in the end, I was disappointed not to get a draw at least. That’s the margins. That’s the level.”
The Gunners had reached the semifinals after an impressive 5-1 aggregate victory over defending champions Real Madrid. However, they couldn’t replicate the dominance shown in their previous matches, even with the passionate support from the home crowd.
As the teams prepare for the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7, PSG will aim to secure their place in the final for a chance to claim the Champions League title for the first time. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be looking to overturn the deficit and keep their European dream alive.
