Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern Munich to secure a spot in the Champions League final against Arsenal, thanks to Ousmane Dembélé's early goal. Bayern's late efforts fell short, leaving PSG to focus on their upcoming showdown in Budapest.
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It cannot always be a laugh a minute. Paris Saint-Germain will play Arsenal in the Champions League final and they made sure of that by getting serious, nullifying an off-key Bayern Munich and rarely wobbling after adding to their first-leg lead. Luis Enriqueâs team should have won by more in a match that did not, and probably never could, hit the previous weekâs heights but their triumph was underpinned by an aptitude for the dirtier work that would serve them well in Budapest.
Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©âs emphatic third-minute finish seemed to have ended this semi-finalâs goalfest and the regret for Vincent Kompany will be that Bayern were a yard short of their sharpest all night. It could have been different if one of their openings before the break, Jamal Musiala spurning the best, had gone in but Harry Kaneâs added-time goal came far too late.
Kompany had urged any Bayern fans feeling less than fighting fit to hand their ticket to somebody capable of making a din. A raging red fever had spread here nonetheless, the SĂŒdkurve in situ 45 minutes before kick-off and bouncing to the repertoire of club anthems, each rendition headier than the last and not a scarf permitted to sag. There had been an electricity around Munich, a city perfectly given to the big event, all day and it was not confined to those declaring an interest.
For neutrals entering Allianz Arena felt akin to crossing the threshold to Narnia; a prostration to whichever means might this time be deployed to test the limits of possibility. According to Luis Enrique, PSG would need at least three goals to go through. Perhaps he had been caught up in the first legâs wide-eyed thrill, or maybe the continentâs two star turns really would serve up more of the same.
It took 140 seconds to dispel any concerns that circumspection might be preferred. Michael Olise had just spoiled a slalom past Khvicha Kvaratskhelia by diving when, with the Bayern right-back Konrad Laimer stranded, FabiĂĄn Ruiz played the Georgian into gaping space and the hosts were in trouble. Kvaratskhelia drew parallel with the six-yard box and there was a chilling certainty to what followed. DembĂ©lĂ©, meeting the cutback unmarked while Bayernâs defenders floundered, thrashed left-footed above a helpless Manuel Neuer.
PSG secured their place in the Champions League final by defeating Bayern Munich, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring an early goal that solidified their lead.
Ousmane Dembélé's goal in the third minute was crucial as it set the tone for PSG's victory and effectively ended Bayern's hopes of a comeback.
Bayern Munich had several opportunities to score, particularly through Jamal Musiala, but ultimately fell short, with Harry Kane's late goal coming too late to change the outcome.
PSG will face Arsenal in the Champions League final after their victory over Bayern Munich.
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Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©âs early goal extends PSGâs lead in the semi-final. Photograph: Matthias SchrĂ€der/AP
Bayern had conceded even earlier at home to Real Madrid before righting themselves. This time there was no swift response, although a Kane shot was charged down and Nuno Mendes blocked crucially from Olise. It was already a game of near-constant counter press, both sides stretching and scratching without asserting control. Another rapier counter would take PSG, who had the run of that left flank, to the brink and Kvaratskhelia marauded again before Neuer gathered his deflected drive.
Olise, in the mood if yet to fire, scooped a 20-yarder marginally too high. Then Bayern screamed for a penalty after a hurried Vitinha clearance smashed into the extended arm of JoĂŁo Neves; nothing was awarded and, coming after a similar appeal for Mendes to be shown a second yellow card for handball was rejected, a sense of home injustice ran as hot as that earlier optimism.
It needed channelling. Neuer made a sensational one-handed stop from JoĂŁo Nevesâ downward header after Bayern switched off at a free-kick, subsequently pleading with the fans behind him to keep possessions in their pockets as PSG prepared the resulting corner. Nobody required an explanation of the next goalâs importance but Musiala, letting Matvey Safonov parry after space had opened up, could not find it and by half-time PSG were sitting in some kind of comfort.
Harry Kane smashes in a late goal as Bayern Munich fell agonisingly short. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP
Surely Bayern would not go quietly. They needed more from players like Luis DĂaz, who had nibbled at the deputy right-back Warren ZaĂŻre-Emery without joy. Aleksandar Pavlovic sliced wastefully wide after 10 minutes of a slow-burning start to the second half, an early stoppage for treatment to Willian Pacho doing nothing to aid the flow. Neuer batted DĂ©sirĂ© DouĂ©âs angled effort away and, almost immediately, blocked from Kvaratskhelia as PSG sensed their chance to settle matters. At the other end ZaĂŻre-Emery earned a handshake from his captain, Marquinhos, for thwarting a link-up between DĂaz and Musiala.
It was of a piece with the way they were smothering a tentative Bayern, who were camped in their half as the hour ticked past but showed little sign of sculpting the opening that could transform everything. DouĂ©, rampant whenever PSG broke, made Neuer keep Bayern in the tie once again. When Safonov repelled an effort from DĂaz, Kompany was left holding out for a late miracle.
DouĂ© shot narrowly wide twice, the real wonder by now being that he had not managed to score. Then Kvaratskhelia, after a mindboggling spin and run, could not quite connect when a goal for the ages looked on. Bayern, battling but beaten, had nothing until Kaneâs inconsequential blast.