Paris St-Germain secured their place in the Champions League final for a second consecutive season after a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena sealed a 6-4 aggregate victory in a dramatic and often contentious semi-final.
An early goal from Ousmane Dembélé proved decisive on the night, but the tie will also be remembered for a series of disputed refereeing decisions that left the home side incensed.
Dembélé struck inside three minutes, finishing confidently after being picked out by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who had been released down the left by a precise pass from Fabián Ruiz.
The goal extended PSG’s aggregate lead following last week’s high-scoring first leg and immediately put Bayern under pressure.
Despite dominating large spells of possession and registering numerous touches in the PSG penalty area, Bayern struggled to convert their pressure into clear chances. Their inefficiency in front of goal ultimately proved costly, with only one effort on target in the first half despite sustained attacking phases.
The German side’s frustration was compounded by controversial officiating decisions. Bayern appealed strongly for a penalty when Vitinha’s clearance appeared to strike João Neves’ arm inside the box, but the referee waved play on. Earlier, there were also calls for a red card and another penalty in separate incidents, further fuelling anger inside the stadium.
PSG, however, showed a more disciplined and pragmatic side compared to the first leg. They defended compactly, disrupted Bayern’s rhythm with tactical fouls, and managed the tempo effectively. Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov was rarely called into action, with his defence consistently blocking crosses and through balls before they could develop into real danger.
Bayern did create opportunities, particularly late in the first half when Jamal Musiala forced a save and later fired wide, but the cutting edge was missing. Harry Kane was often forced to drop deep in search of possession, highlighting the hosts’ struggles to penetrate PSG’s organised back line.
In the second half, Bayern increased the intensity, but PSG remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Kvaratskhelia was a constant threat, coming close with a powerful run before losing his footing at the crucial moment, while Désiré Doué also tested Manuel Neuer with a series of efforts.
As the match wore on, Bayern introduced fresh legs in an attempt to revive the contest, but PSG continued to hold firm. Their defensive resilience and early advantage ensured they maintained control of the tie.
Ultimately, the French side’s clinical start and composed defensive display proved enough to see them through, ending Bayern’s hopes despite the home side’s dominance in possession and territory despite Harry Kane late strike
PSG will now turn their attention to the final, where they will aim to go one step further after falling short in previous campaigns.
