First Leg:
Bayern München Vs. PSG (Apr. 28):
The stage was set for one of the biggest games of the season in Europe. Both PSG and Bayern München are very attacking teams with both scoring the most amount of goals in their own respective leagues. After getting a penalty in the box converted by Harry Kane in the 17th minute, the score was 1-0 to Bayern München. PSG responded quickly with a fast break from Khvicha Kvaraskhelia, hitting a right footed shot into the side of the box, 1-1. Just nine minutes later, with 5 ‘9’’ João Neves scoring a header from a corner, whipped in by Ballon D’or winner; Ousmane Dembélé, 2-1 to PSG. Micheal Olise scored with a left-footed shot to the top of the box flying past PSG’s goalkeeper, Matvey Sofanov. The first half was coming to a close, but PSG weren’t done yet. A penalty was given after a VAR check on handball from Alphonso Davies. The penalty added time in the first half, with Dembélé converting the penalty in the 45+5’ minute of added time. The first half ended as a 3-2 advantage for PSG.
As the second half started, Bayern München made one change, with Davies making his way for Konrad Laimer. Barely 10 minutes after the start of the second half, in the 56’ Kvaraskhelia put another in the back of the net to make the score 4-2 to PSG. A minute later, Ousmane made the score 5-2 to PSG from a break from the half-way line. With the goal from Dembélé, it looked like there was near to no hope for Bayern München to make a comeback for their spot in the Champions League final in Budapest. Less than 10 minutes after the goal from Dembélé, Bayern München scored by defender Dayot Upamecano to make the score 5-3. In the 68’, Luis Diaz was put through on a pass from Kane after an onsides check. The game ended with the final being 5-4, setting the record for the most goals scored in one Champions League Semi-final Leg. Casa Grande junior Kevin Medina, stated that “this [was] one of the best games I [had] ever watched while being a neutral, with the final score being 5-4 is absolutely insane for a Champions League semi-final.”
Arsenal Vs. Atletico Madrid (Apr. 29):
After the game the night before, nobody was expecting anything of the same in this fixture at Atletico Madrid’s home stadium, Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Both of these teams are known for their more defensive style of play, unlike PSG and Bayern München’s more attacking-style of play. Arsenal looked to be the far better team in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Arsenal got a goal from a penalty from the spot in the 44’ taken by Viktor Gyökeres. Martin Ødegaard and Martin Zubimendi combined to give a through ball into the box for Gyökeres, who was taken down by Dávid Hancko. The first half ended as a 1-0 advantage for Arsenal.
As the second half began, Atletico Madrid immediately started attacking Arsenal’s box, with them winning a penalty in the 56’ after a deflected volley hit the hand of Ben White in the box. Julian Alvarez put the ball in the back of the net without Arsenal’s goalkeeper; David Raya, not even attempting to dive for the ball, making the score 1-1. Atletico Madrid were by far the better side in the second half, but Raya saved the day for Arsenal over and over again. A very controversial decision happened in 78’, with a penalty at first being given to Arsenal after a foul on Eberechi Eze in the box. While Eze had the ball, it looked like he was tripped by Hancko ,who conceded the first penalty in the first half. As VAR said, it looked like Hancko got the slightest touch before tripping Eberechi Eze, and the referee canceled the penalty, and play resumed from the box. The game ended as 1-1 draw, coming from two penalties, with both sides having a job to do in the second leg. Medina shared that “this was one of the least enjoyable Champions League semi-finals I have ever watched. There just wasn’t much going on in the game except for the controversial VAR decision near the end of the game.”
2nd Leg:
Bayern München Vs. PSG (May 5):
Bayern came into their home turf needing to chase after a tie, after PSG’s 5-4 win. PSG struck first at the Allianz arena when Dembele put the ball in the back of the net, getting Kvaratskhelia his assist and making PSG the favorites to win the game. This also put Bayern under serious pressure and forced them to play more aggressively. Bayern also weren’t settling to lose; the Germans were hitting shots from different angles seeking for that goal to give them hope. Shots from Kane, Stanisic, Diaz, Olise, Karl and Laimer were all testing Russian keeper, Matvey Safonov. PSG stayed compact in the first half while defending in a low block and relying on counter attack through Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, and Desire Doue. The breakthrough finally came deep into stoppage time when Kane converted a late chance in the 90+4 min with a left footed shot to make it 1-1, but it wasn’t enough. Bayern threw everything forward in the final minutes, but PSG held on strong and eliminated them on aggregate. PSG advanced to the final with a score of 6-5 giving the French men a chance to win it back to back.
Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid (May 6):
The second leg at the Emirates was a tense and tactical battle. Arsenal controlled early possession, trying to stretch Atletico’s compact defensive shape. Then, right before halftime, Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka found himself in the perfect position to net in the first goal of the game and give the gunners hope. After the goal, Atletico pushed harder in the second half, bringing on extra attackers and increasing pressure through Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann. But Arsenal’s midfield, led by Declan Rice could not be passed, and they shut down most central spaces. Atletico had a couple of dangerous plays in the late moments of the game, including a header cleared off the line, but Arsenal stayed disciplined and managed the game out. Arsenal managed to advance to the Champions League Final, where they will face Paris Saint German on May 30th in Budapest, Hungary at the Puskas Arena.
