Berlin, 30 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Paris Saint-Germain continued to torment English opposition when they triumphed 1-0 at Arsenal on Tuesday to take another step towards a first ever Champions League title.

Ousmane Dembele scored four minutes into the first leg semi-final at Emirates Stadium, and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made big saves against Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to preserve the precious advantage.

The second leg is in Paris next week Wednesday where PSG aim to complete the job and reach the final for the second time, the first being in 2020 when they lost against Bayern Munich.

Vitinha hails team effort

"It was a great night for the group. We had the ball for most of the game. We had to adapt to the different circumstances of the match and we did, defending and attacking well," PSG midfielder Vitinha, who was named Man of the Match, told Prime Video.

He added that Donnarumma "had a great match but the team was the key. We could have scored more but we are glad for 1-0 and we will do everything our power to go to the final."

PSG knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa in the previous two rounds and now also appear to have the upper hand against Arsenal, who eliminated title holders and record winners Real Madrid in the previous round and have also never won Europe's biggest prize.

They lost the 2006 decider against Barcelona under Arsene Wenger, who was in attendance on Tuesday.

Arsenal won't be counted out

Arsenal, who beat PSG 2-0 in the league stage earlier in the competition, and Real 3-0 in their last home game in the elite event, now have a mountain to climb at the Parc des Princes, but showed in their 2-1 win at the Bernabeu over Real what they can be capable of.

"It's only half-time, we take positives," Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya said. "We know we can win against any team.

"Paris started very quick with a goal. They dominated the first 15 minutes but, after that, I thought we dominated the game. We had the chances and Donnarumma made some brilliant saves."

The other semi-final is between Barca and Inter Milan, with the first leg on Wednesday in Spain.

Perfect start for PSG

PSG who had a dream start, Dembele found Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left and got the ball back inside the penalty area to fire in off the far right post after just four minutes.

The early lead gave PSG plenty of confidence and Marquinhos headed into Raya's arms in the 16th, with Raya then also on his guard against a deflected shot from the lively Kvaratskhelia 11 minutes later.

Donnarumma was finally called into action to save Jakub Kiwior's header and a shot by Martin Odegaard but the visitors remained the more dangerous side at first.

They were denied a second by a super save from Raya against Desire Doue, and the offside flag went up when Fabian Ruiz hit the poston the rebound.

Arsenal grow into the game

Arsenal threatened again in the 38th when Joao Neves poked the ball away from Mikel Merino at the last instance. They almost got the equalizer in stoppage time, only for the towering Donnarumma to deny Martinelli one on one.

The ball was in PSG's net three minutes after the restart but Merino's header off a free-kick from Declan Rice was nullified due to offside after a long review.

The fast start gave the hosts morale as Trossard's shot was just tipped out of bounds by Donnarumma in the 56th.

PSG almost snatch late second

PSG however weathered the storm and came close to a second in the final minutes when first Dembele's replacement Bradley Barcola shot wide left in the 84th, and Goncalo Ramos rattled the crossbar a minute later.

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