Holders Paris Saint-Germain have punched their ticket to the Champions League final after a dramatic 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday. The result secured a 6-5 aggregate victory for the French giants, setting up a mouthwatering showdown with Arsenal in Budapest on May 30.
The match was anything but straightforward, with Bayern left fuming over two contentious refereeing decisions. PSG took an early lead when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia found space down the left and delivered a perfect square ball for Ousmane Dembélé to smash into the roof of the net. Bayern's Harry Kane, largely quiet throughout, struck in injury time, but it was too little, too late for the German side.
Last week's first leg in France was a nine-goal thriller, with PSG edging a 5-4 win in what many called one of the best Champions League games in recent memory. The return leg was a far more tactical affair, with PSG defending resolutely while Bayern's frustration grew at Portuguese referee João Pinheiro's decisions.
The first flashpoint came when PSG left-back Nuno Mendes escaped a second yellow card for handball. The referee initially blew for a similar offence by Bayern's Konrad Laimer, but replays showed the ball had struck the Austrian in the chest. VAR couldn't intervene on Mendes as it was a yellow card decision.
Bayern's anger intensified when they appealed for a penalty after João Neves handled the ball in the box. The Portugal midfielder's arm was away from his body as he deflected a clearance from his own teammate, but the referee waved play on, with VAR remaining silent.
PSG held firm to secure their place in the final, where they'll aim for a second consecutive Champions League title. They'll face an Arsenal side they eliminated in last season's semi-finals, setting up a rematch with plenty of history behind it. For fans looking to celebrate PSG's run or gear up for the final, now's the perfect time to stock up on official Champions League merchandise and show your support for the reigning champions.