Champions League: Paris too strong: Arsenal loses semi-final first leg with 0: 1

Paris Saint-Germain is only a step away from the Champions League final in Munich. Thanks to an early hit by ex-Dortmunders Ousmane Dembélé, the French football champion came to a 1-0 (1-0) at Arsenal in London in a mostly high-class semi-finals.

Dembélé scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute and gave his team an excellent starting position for the second leg on May 7 (9:00 p.m./DAZN). He also ensured a successful revenge for the 0: 2 in the premier class. Arsenal has to increase again to deny the strong Parisers the leap into the final on May 31 in the Bavarian capital.

First memory of the Pope, then strong start

The game started with a minute of commemoration for the died Pope Francis. It was the last quiet moment in the Emirates stage sold out with 60,000 spectators. Because from the kick -off the teams went to the full.

No scanning, no waiting, no hesitation – tried to put pressure on the highly gifted on both sides. But only PSG was successful – and that with the first degree. With its 33th competitive goal, the ex-Dortmund Dembélé brought his team from a distance of 15 meters after passing the Georgian 70 million euro man Chwitschha Kwarazchelia.

The hit had an effect at Arsenal. Suddenly the Londoners were unsettled. They hardly managed a ball conquest, no clear action forward.

The guests determined this, with their extreme pressing brought their opponent into trouble again and again and kept looking with their offensive trio Dembélé, Desire Doué and Kwarazchelia. To do this, all players worked sharply backwards.

Arsenal only got into the game better after about 20 minutes. It was not really dangerous for Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal at first.

The 19-year-old Super Talent Doué (32nd) even had the chance to increase the French champion before the break, but failed due to the strongly reacting arsenal keeper David Raya. The Spaniard was offside at the subsequent post shot from Fabian. Only shortly before the break, the Premier League second had the opportunity to compensate. But Donnarumma held the shot by Gabriel Martinelli (45th).

The second half also starts exciting

The second half started as spectacular as the first. After a free kick variant, Mikel Merino (46.) hit his head – due to the side, the goal was withdrawn after the VAR test. Nevertheless: Arsenal was now full, the Parisians were increasingly demanded on the defensive. Leandro Trossard (56th) had the next chance of the Londoner, again Donnarumma was on hand.

Over time, the Londoners waned their strength. The Parisians were sure and in turn had some options. Goncalo Ramos (86.) still hit the crossbar of the Arsenal goal.