A golden goal, a crucial victory and a big step towards the Wembley final! Paris Saint-Germain struck an immense blow on the lawn of Arsenal (0-1), this Tuesday evening, in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League. In an electric atmosphere, Parisians were able to show cold realism at the start of the match before showing defensive solidity and a foolproof mind to keep this precious advantage. A pragmatic success, where the manner matters less than the result, and which carries the mark of a Donnarumma once again decisive.
Dembélé entrance striking, Paris holds good
The ideal scenario took place very quickly for the men of Luis Enrique. From the 4th minute, Ousmane Dembélé illuminated the evening. A lightning acceleration from the central round, a relay with KVaratskhelia on the left side, and the French striker, at the reception of the center back, placed a resumption of the left which, with the help of the post, tried Raya. 1-0. A cannon start that froze the Emirates. Paris then managed this advance, even creating Break opportunities by Marquinhos (14th) then gifted (31st), without however managing to double the bet.
The mirage of the mastery fades
Because after a convincing first half, Paris let Arsenal come back to the match. The Gunners then took control of the ball and besieged the Parisian camp for almost an hour. The London pressure was intense, the red and white waves incessant, often finding spaces. But faced with this territorial domination, Arsenal was sorely failed in accuracy and realism, spoiling many situations by avoidable offside or inaccuracies in the last gesture.
A solid and realistic PSG takes the best on Arsenal
Donnarumma, again and again the wall
And when the attackers of Arsenal were setting their attempts, they came across a gianluigi imperial donnarumma. The Italian porter confirmed his status as a key man from PSG in this European campaign. Two very high class reflex stops, ahead of Martinelli just before the break (45th) and facing Trossard on the return from the locker room (56th), maintained Paris afloat and disgusted the Gunners. Behind his giant goalkeeper, the Parisian defense, often criticized this season, has blocked, folded without ever breaking, showing precious solidarity.
Precious victory, but Dembélé worries
Paris therefore kept good, pushing the last assaults and even getting opportunities to definitively kill the match against. But neither Neves (78th), nor KVaratskhelia (80th), nor even Gonçalo Ramos, whose attempt crashed on the crossbar (85th), managed to offer more air to the 2,500 Parisian supporters present. The evening concluded on a major concern with the injury outing of Ousmane Dembélé (70th), hit in the thigh. This 1-0 success is an excellent operation, but the qualification remains to be validated at the Parc des Princes. The fear lived against Aston Villa recalls that in the Champions League, nothing is ever acquired. And the possible absence of Dembélé would be a hard blow.
