Arsenal-Psg 0-1: Dembele-goal and Donnarumma's miracle. Gunners KO at Emirates

London, 29 April 2025 - The Paris Saint Germain he conquered theEmirates Stadium in the first leg of the semi-finals of Uefa Champions LeagueThe Parisians won by a narrow margin against Arsenal, thanks to a goal by Ousmane Dembelé scored right at the start of the match, in the fourth minute. In North London, a challenge with an enormous technical level and very high intensity took place, during which the Gunners had some opportunities to avoid defeat. The one who told them no was a super Donnarumma, who saved his team on a couple of occasions with his feats. PSG also has some complaints, having wasted two big scoring opportunities towards the end to knock out their rivals. Arts, deprived of many key players, will still have the chance to recover the disadvantage in the return match at the Parc des Princes. On the other side, Luis Enrique is celebrating, starting the double challenge in the best way that would give the Paris the second final of Champions League of its own history.

The starting lineups

Mikel Arts he fields his best eleven available, considering the absences of Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Tomiyasu, Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Havertz. In theArsenal Raya is between the posts, with Timber, Saliba, Kiwior and Lewis Skelly forming the back four. Rice leads the midfield supported by Merino and Odegaard, while Martinelli and Sakà are positioned on the sides of the striker Trossard. Luis Enrique enjoys a full roster and prefers Doué to Barcola, in the only ballot of the eve at home in Paris. Between the posts is Donnarumma, covered by Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho and Nuno Mendes. In midfield are Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Neves. The offensive trio, in addition to the aforementioned Doué, is completed by Dembelé and Kvaratskhelia.

First half

Ready, steady, go and it's a cold shower for Arsenal, who conceded a goal in the fourth minute. Dembele starts an open-field move from midfield, widens to the left for kvaratskhelia and receives again from the Georgian; from about fifteen meters the ex-Barcelona player crushes the conclusion a little, but finds the corner at the far post. Stingray picks up the ball from the net that makes it 0-1, after it has kissed the post. Full speed ahead for the psg, who plays well first time, with fluidity, and continuously puts the defensive climbs of the home team in difficulty. The Londoners are unable to get into the game well, also due to the suffocating pressing of the Parisians. The guests make themselves seen again in the 14th minute on a cross from Hakimi who finds the head of Marquinhos, stopped by Stingray. After twenty minutes of French territorial domination, the Gunners took the measure and began to attack with insistence. In the 25th minute the Paris has a gust and Kvaratskhelia tests Raya from a tight angle. The goalkeeper of Arts It is crucial in the 31st minute, when Gifted he moves in from the left and kicks a powerful low shot towards the near post: Stingray he goes down like a cat and saves his team, shortly after pardoned by the offside of Fabian Ruiz, who had hit the post anyway. At the end of the half the match heats up and the referee has to keep the animosity of the players on the pitch under control. During the first and only minute of injury time, Donnarumma takes the stage. Lewis Skelly sends to the goal Martinelli with an illuminating through ball and the Italian goalkeeper excels himself with a great diving save. With this intervention the curtain falls on the first half: the teams go to the locker rooms with the Paris Saint Germain above a marking.

Second half

The second half of the game opens with the illusion of a draw for Arsenal. On a free kick taken from the three-quarter line, Mikel Merino he beats everyone to the head and scores Donnarumma. A long VAR check, lasting about three minutes, dampens the enthusiasm of theEmirates Stadium: the Spaniard was offside and the goal was disallowed. Paris he still has to thank Donnarumma, who in the 56th minute performed a miracle worthy of the greatest: Trossard he is launched towards the goal, angles it well with his left foot towards the second post and the goalkeeper incredibly gets there with his fingertips. The Parisians try to slow down the pace when in possession of the ball, after having held their own at the moment of maximum effort of the opponents. The fatigue begins to be felt on the pitch. In the 78th minute a flash of psg, on an error of the Gunners, provides a good opportunity for Neves, who shoots high over the crossbar from the edge of the area. The Londoners seem to have little energy reserves and in the final stages they risk a lot. In the 84th minute Barcelona he misses a golden opportunity to make it 2-0, crossing the ball with his right foot just wide, Stingray already beaten. A minute later it is Gonçalo Ramos to pierce the home defence in depth and hit the crossbar with a powerful shot.

The match scoreboard

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber (83' White), Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard (90' Nwaneri), Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli. Coach: Arteta. Paris Saint Germain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves (89' Zaire-Emery); Doué (76' G. Ramos), Dembelé (70' Barcola), Kvaratskhelia. Coach: Luis Enrique. Goalscorers: 4' Dembelé (Psg) Referee: Slavko Vincic. Yellow cards: Trossard (Ars), Saka (Ars), Hakimi (Psg), Neves (Psg) Red cards: -

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