Ousmane Dembele’s fourth-minute strike will give Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) a narrow one-goal advantage ahead of the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Arsenal, following a 1-0 win at the Emirates this evening, April 29.
A lightning quick start from the visitors saw them dominate proceedings for much of the first half, as Desire Doue also forced goalie David Raya into an excellent save on the half-hour mark, and the visitors will be disappointed not to leave with a bigger advantage, after Goncalo Ramos struck the bar and Bradley Barcola fired wide from close range late on.
Arsenal gradually grew into the game, but saw goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma thwart them at every possible opportunity, keeping out Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard with fantastic saves down low to his left.
On the one occasion Mikel Arteta’s men were able to beat the Italian in the PSG goal, VAR was on hand to disallow Mikel Merino’s header for a very tight offside call on a frustrating evening for the Gunners, who have it all to do in the French capital next week.
It was something of a surprise that Luis Enrique’s men came into this first leg as the underdogs, given their recent form, and in particular the performance they put in at Anfield to knock Liverpool out in the last 16, and they made a mockery of those pre-match odds tonight.
From the outset, PSG took control of the game, with midfield trio Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha oozing class in midfield, and providing their front three with the ammunition to attack Arsenal in the first half especially.
Arsenal were always bound to play themselves into the game, and PSG’s open nature allowed the hosts to get into some dangerous positions, but Enrique knows he has the ability of Donnarumma between the sticks to bail them out, and he did so again this evening.
It is perfectly poised ahead of the second leg, and PSG will be huge favourites given the advantage they will take into it, but the tie is far from done and dusted, and with Arsenal needing to go on the offensive, we could be in for a thrilling night in Paris next Wednesday.
