After a tense and controversial opening 1-1 draw in Spain last week that saw Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez exchange penalties before another spot-kick award for the Gunners was contentiously overturned, Tuesday night’s semi-final second-leg decider at the Emirates Stadium saw the Gunners sneak through 2-1 on aggregate after Bukayo Saka’s winner.
Either holders Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich will now lie in wait during the showpiece fixture of Europe’s elite club competition later this month.
The two heavyweights renew their rivalry at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening, having played out a modern classic in the French capital last week.
The highest-scoring European Cup semi-final since 1959/60 saw Bayern take an early advantage through Harry Kane’s penalty, only for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Joao Neves and Michael Olise all to score excellent goals before another spot-kick from Ousmane Dembele saw the hosts lead at the interval.
Kvaratskhelia and Dembele both netted again to put PSG in control, only for Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz to then bring Bayern back within a goal ahead of a hotly anticipated return fixture in Bavaria.
Eyes on the prize: Paris Saint-Germain are the current holders of the Champions League
Getty Images
When is the Champions League final?
The game takes place at the 67,215-capacity Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm BST, which is 6pm local time. UEFA have brought that forward from the traditional 8pm slot starting from this season, in order to “enhance the matchday experience and benefit fans, teams and host cities” and “make it even more accessible, inclusive and impactful for everyone involved”.
