Dembele’s early strike sends hosts into another Champions League final despite Kane’s late strike

Paris Saint-Germain secured a chance to defend their Champions League trophy in the final against Arsenal after a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

After last week’s 5-4 first-leg draw in Paris, this defensive display was equally impressive for the hosts, who went ahead after three minutes through Ousmane Dembele, with Harry Kane’s extra-time finish coming too late for the hosts to come back.

In fact, Kane – alongside Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – could not provide the same threat that he did eight days ago as the Bundesliga giants were frustrated by the Parisians, who lost many opportunities to increase their lead.

All eyes will now be on Budapest on May 30 as PSG defend their status as European champions against Arsenal, who claimed the Champions League title for the first time after beating Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Dembele scored the first blow to extend PSG’s lead

It looked like we might have another game just three minutes in when Dembele found the net after Fabian Ruiz sent Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left, with the Ballon d’Or winner closing the gap with ease to extend PSG’s advantage to two goals.

Bayern began to find their feet after about 10 minutes with Harry Kane and Michael Olise both seeing good chances blocked before a third member of their lethal squad Luis Diaz saw a shot fly high.

Olise continued to test Nuno Mendes at left back as the defender drove inside the box before cutting inside and curling his trademark shot just above the crossbar and into the net.

Two big points left Bayern players and staff fuming, first when Mendes avoided a second yellow card for a foul before Vitinha headed the ball straight into the hands of team-mate Joao Neves – without going the way of the hosts.

Neves then forced a fine save at point blank range from Manuel Neuer with the midfielder’s header back at the post which was put away by the German stopper.

PSG held firm to frustrate Bayern

It was undoubtedly a more contained and controlled game for PSG who continued to keep Bayern at bay before having two excellent chances on the break, with Desire Doue and Kvaratskhelia forcing saves from Neuer from close range.

PSG’s back four had kept five clean sheets in a row before this match and perhaps their defensive resilience was evident as the likes of Olise and Kane struggled to show the kind of threat they had in previous rounds and, with 25 minutes to play, the managers looked comfortable.

Luis Diaz created Bayern’s best chance of the half when he controlled Alphonso Davies’ low cross from the left before curling a low ball to the left where Matvey Safonov should have headed, before the PSG stopper easily collected Olise’s shot despite a promising opener.

Kane’s goal comes too late

Some amazing quick feet from Kvaratskhelia up the other end created a chance for Doue to find the net but the Frenchman’s shot managed to rattle the side netting. It was Bayern who needed two goals, but the closing stages saw PSG on the front foot in the second, the ball barely crossing to Kvara inside the box before Bradley Barcola saw another opportunity begging for it.

A good touch from Diaz found its way to Lennart Karl who couldn’t get a convincing shot, before Neuer was called into action again to deny Barcola as the hosts’ hopes began to fade.