- Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal as PSG beat Arsenal 1–0 in the Champions League semi-final first leg
- A goal by Mikel Merino was disallowed for offside after a VAR check early in the second half
- Gianluigi Donnarumma and David Raya delivered crucial saves to keep the tie in the balance
Key Takeaways:
Paris Saint-Germain have taken a 1–0 lead over Arsenal after the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. The only goal of the game at the Emirates came very early and was scored by Ousmane Dembele.
The return leg is scheduled for Wednesday, 7 May in Paris. The winner of this clash will face either Barcelona or Inter in the final of the Champions League, set to be played in Munich next month.
Both sides had their chances to secure the victory, with both David Raya and Gianluigi Donnarumma producing several top saves throughout the contest.
Paris win in North London 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/XoyjwEr8HN
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 29, 2025
The visitors shocked the hosts in just the 4th minute. Dembele latched onto a perfectly placed pass from the edge of the penalty area by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and fired low into the bottom corner to give PSG the lead. It was the French forward’s 33rd goal in all competitions this season. Arsenal fans had another scare in the 14th minute, when Raya had to make a sharp save to deny a powerful header from Marquinhos. In the 31st minute, PSG came close again. Desire Doue had a great opportunity to double the lead, but Raya reacted well to save his effort. Only in the closing minutes of the first half did Arsenal begin to match PSG’s tempo. Martinelli forced Donnarumma into a save with a well-struck shot just before the break.
Just after half-time, Arsenal thought they had equalised. Declan Rice sent in a free-kick, and Mikel Merino broke away from his marker to head the ball past Donnarumma. However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside. Shortly after, Leandro Trossard found space and let fly with a strong shot, but Donnarumma was once again equal to it. In the 84th minute, PSG missed a golden chance to extend their lead. Bradley Barcola fired a diagonal shot that went inches wide of the left post. A minute later, Goncalo Ramos struck the crossbar from close range, squandering another major opportunity for the visitors.