Arsenal 0-1 PSG HIGHLIGHTS, Champions League 2024-25: Dembele’s goal the point of difference at the end of the first leg

Arsenal 0-1 PSG HIGHLIGHTS, Champions League 2024-25: Dembele’s goal the point of difference at the end of the first leg

PSG will carry a narrow 1-0 lead against Arsenal into the second leg at the Parc des Princes. Ousmane Dembele’s fourth-minute goal wins it for the Parisians. 

Rice delivers a deep cross towards the backpost but it won’t count as the referee blows his whistle for a foul on Donnarumma. 

Arsenal has a corner and it has to be its last proper chance to get something from this match. 

Rice steals the ball from Vitinha and sends it forward. Martinelli gets the ball and sends it to Nwaneri on the left, who goes for a curling effort. However, his shot has too much power and Donnarumma sees the ball go way above his goal. 

Five minutes added at the end of the second-half. Arsenal still with enough time to grab a late equaliser. 

Arsenal sub: IN- Nwaneri OUT- Odegaard 

PSG sub: IN- Zaire-Emery OUT- Neves

Rice lashes the ball inside the crowded area hoping the ball would take a touch off anyone and go inside the net but PSG manage to keep its composure and Kvaratskhelia clears the ball to safety. 

Martinelli is brought down by Hakimi right at the left edge of the box. The Arsenal man tries to convince the referee it was inside the box, but it is a freekick for Arsenal and in a very good position. Rice is standing over the ball. The angle looks a bit tight for a direct shot but anything can happen. 

Another chance for PSG to double its lead. Ramos gets to the end of a long ball and brings down the ball with an excellent touch. He tries to toe poke the ball over Raya but ends up rattling the crossbar. Now, if Arsenal equalises, PSG will go back to Paris, a frustrated team. 

Barcola and Ramos link up to split open the Arsenal defence. Barcola makes his way inside the Arsenal box from the right. He goes across the goal, aiming for the far post, but misses the target by inches. That could prove to be a big miss. 

Arsenal sub: IN- White OUT- Timber 

Kvaratskhelia cuts in from the left and goes for the curler, but puts too much in his shot and ends up skying his effort. 

PSG sub: IN- Ramos OUT- Doue

PSG is going slightly on the defensive as we enter the last 15 minutes of the first leg. 

Kvaratskhelia sees Raya slightly off his line and attempts to catch him out with a lob from long distance. However his effort is not on target. 

Odegaard swings a cross inside the box from the right but Donnarumma is quick to read the danger and comes off his line to pluck the ball from the air. 

PSG sub: IN- Barcola OUT- Dembele 

It is a midfield battle right now between the two teams. However, despite the lead, PSG has not shown any signs of sitting back. 

Dembele sends a clever little through ball for Hakimi who had made a run behind the defence but Saliba makes an excellent chance to prevent the Moroccan from taking the shot. 

Saka takes a tumble at the edge of the box after a challenge from Neves but it is a clean challenge and the referee waves for play to continue. 

Rice splits open the PSG defence with an excellent through ball for Trossard. Trossard makes his way inside the box from the left and shoots across the face of the goal, aiming for the far corner. However, Donnarumma gets down quickly and makes another important save. 

Doue shows lightning-quick feet to skip past a couple of Arsenal players and make his way inside the Arsenal box. In the end, he loses the ball. Ruiz gets it back and tries to give the ball back to Doue but the Arsenal defence is quick to read the situation and sends the ball to safety. 

It was a long check, and the verdict sends the Emirates into silence moments after jubilation. The VAR check shows that Merino was in an offside position and his goal won’t stand. 

Arsenal finally capitalises from a set-piece. Declan Rice swings an excellent cross inside the box, and Merino is there to head the ball towards the far corner and find the equaliser for the Gunners. 

But wait! There is a VAR check going on to see whether Merino was in an offside position when Rice delivered the cross inside the PSG box 

PSG booking: Neves sees a yellow card for that challenge on Merino. 

Joao Neves fouls Merino, and Arsenal has a freekick early in the second half.

PSG leading Arsenal 1-0 as the second half gets underway at the Emirates Stadium in London. 

Dembele’s goal keeps PSG in a 1-0 lead against Arsenal as the referee blows the whistle for half-time. 

One minute added at the end of the first-half!

Lewis-Skelley goes on a mesmeric run and finishes it with an excellent through ball for Martinelli. Martinelli had a lot of time and space to aim at goal and goes for the far corner with a low shot but Donnarumma reacts well to get the all important touch and make the save. 

PSG booking: Hakimi is the latest player to see a yellow card. 

The PSG defence has given the ball away a lot of times quite cheaply, and they are lucky Arsenal has not been able to capitalise on that till now. But that is something Enrique will surely point out during his half-time team talk. 

Arsenal booking: Saka sees a yellow card for his challenge on Nuno Mendes and there was also a bit of dissent from the English forward, who kicked the ball away in frustration. 

Arsenal is completely in control of the match right now. PSG cannot seem to get out of its half, and right now, Enrique’s biggest priority would be getting to halftime with the lead. 

A big chance for Arsenal – Saka with a lovely change of direction after which he swings the ball towards the far post. Donnarumma tries to catch the ball but misses it completely. Martinelli has an empty net in front of him, but he, too, fails to get a touch as the ball goes out for a goalkick. 

A big penalty shout from Arsenal as Merino goes down inside the PSG box after a challenge by Joao Neves from behind. The referee waved the penalty claims away and the replay shows that was an excellent decision by the official. Neves got the ball with his challenge and kicked the ground instead of Merino. 

Odegaard had another chance to swing a good cross inside the PSG box but hits Kvaratskhelia who is the first man. 

Doue cuts in and takes a shot at goal, which is saved well by Raya. Fabian Ruiz tries to capitalise on the rebound, with his shot rattling the crossbar. Eventually, play is stopped as the referee blows the whistle for offside. That was an important save by Raya off Doue, given the current situation. 

Kvaratskhelia gets the ball on the left side of the Arsenal box. He decides not to cut in and shoots with his left. The shot takes a minor deflection which takes away a lot of power from the shot, making it a bit easier for Raya to get down and collect the ball. 

Odegaard swings the ball inside the PSG box from a free kick. Kiwior manages to get a header away but it lacks power, and Donnarumma catches the ball with ease. 

Arsenal is finally showing some positive signs in the final third, putting the PSG defence under pressure. In the latest move Saka drives in a cross from the right but fails to find anyone in the middle. 

Kvaratskhelia is fouled by Timber for the second time on the left flank, and the Arsenal defender is walking a tightrope. The referee calls Odegaard and asks him to have a word with his player. One more foul like that and Timber will most probably see a yellow card. 

Kvaratskhelia tries to wriggle between two Arsenal players inside the box, but he is brought down as Timber wraps his arm around him. The PSG players immediately appeal for a penalty but the referee waves play to continue. 

PSG keeps Arsenal under pressure by keeping the ball around the Arsenal box. Hakimi swings the ball into the box and finds Marquinhos, who heads the ball towards goal. The effort is on target, but the header lacks power and is straight at Raya, allowing the Arsenal keeper to collect the ball with ease. 

Arsenal booking: Trossard is shown a yellow card after he brings down Hakimi to prevent him from starting a counter attack. 

Dembele scoops the ball for Nuno Mendes, who was the furthest man for PSG but he is held off by Saliba as Raya collects the ball. 

It is still very early, and they have plenty of time to get back in this match. The home fans are doing their job but the tide has definitely shifted to PSG’s side for now. 

Dembele drops down deep, collects the ball and spreads it to Kvaratskhelia on the left. Kvaratskhelia makes his way inside the ball and sets up Dembele for the shot. The Frenchman goes for a first-time effort and he beats Raya at his far-post as the ball hits the inside of the post and rattles the net. 

Both teams have begun on an attacking note, showing that they are not afraid to press when the opponent has the ball. 

The Champions League semifinal first leg between Arsenal and PSG is underway at the Emirates Stadium in London. 

Total matches played: 5 

Arsenal wins: 3 

PSG wins: 0 

Draws: 2

​

Arsenal predicted XI: Raya(GK); Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

PSG predicted XI: Donnarumma(GK); Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the Champions League 2024-25 semifinal first-leg between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain from the Emirates Stadium in London.