Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will battle for a place in the UEFA Champions League final when they meet for the second leg of their semifinal showdown at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, May 7.
PSG head into the tie with a slight edge after securing a 1-0 away win at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in the first leg, courtesy of an early strike by Ousmane Dembélé. The French side are now favourites to advance, but Arsenal are still in with a fighting chance as they seek just their second-ever appearance in a Champions League final.
First Leg Recap
PSG struck early in London, with Dembélé’s fourth-minute goal proving decisive in a tightly contested match. The Parisians controlled much of the opening exchanges and held firm defensively to claim a valuable away victory.
History in the Champions League
Neither team has lifted the prestigious European trophy. PSG reached the final once—in the 2019/2020 season—falling 1-0 to Bayern Munich. Arsenal’s only appearance in the final was in the 2005/2006 season, where they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris.
Team News
PSG
Dembélé, who scored the winner in the first leg and suffered a minor hamstring strain, has been declared fit for the return fixture. The winger leads the team in scoring this season with 33 goals. Manager Luis Enrique also has a fully fit squad, with Desire Doue expected to start ahead of Bradley Barcola.
Arsenal
Thomas Partey returns from suspension to rejoin the midfield alongside Declan Rice and captain Martin Ødegaard. Jurrien Timber is a doubt as he continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury, although he trained with the team ahead of the match. Injuries continue to sideline Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Gabriel Magalhães. Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jorginho remain unavailable for this leg but could return if Arsenal reach the final.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, João Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Doue
Head-to-Head Record
- Arsenal wins: 3
- PSG wins: 1
- Draws: 2
What the Managers Said
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal):
“If you want to be in the Champions League final, you have to do something special. We’re going to have to do something special in Paris to be there.”
Luis Enrique (PSG):
“We’re bound to suffer because our opponents don’t have a favourable result. We need to match our first-leg performance and stay true to our identity.”
Champions League Final – Date and Venue
The winner will progress to the 2025 UEFA Champions League final on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
