Paris Saint-Germain don reach another Champions League final, and dis time dem go meet Arsenal for Budapest on May 30. For semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich for Allianz Arena, PSG show say dem be complete team wey fit defend dia title.
Na Ousmane Dembele score for third minute, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia race down wing and set am up. Harry Kane score for Bayern for dying seconds, but e no fit save dia side. PSG win 6-5 on aggregate and go final again.
Luis Enrique, di PSG coach, don build new team from ashes of superstar era wey get Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Dat time, di team na collection of egos, but now dem get work ethic and defensive solidity. Di coach order players to park dia egos at door, or dem go commot.
Di leader na Marquinhos. Di Brazil centre-half arrive for PSG from Roma for 2013, and e survive di cull because Luis Enrique sabi see professional and world-class defender. E form superb partnership with Willian Pacho, wey keep Kane under wraps for most of match.
Kvaratskhelia and Dembele combine for di goal, while 20-year-old Desire Doue torment Bayern defence. But di glue wey hold everything na Marquinhos, still peerless at 31, with uncanny knack of being for right place at right time.
PSG midfield of Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves be well-oiled engine room. Ruiz pass for build-up to goal na beauty, but e revert to defensive dirty work wey Luis Enrique demand. Di team fit attack and defend as one.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock tell BBC Match Of The Day say e very difficult to look past PSG as winners. Dem strong for every area, except maybe goalkeeper Matvei Safonov. Arsenal go get problem to contain PSG full-backs, wey mean Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard go need to defend and attack.
PSG demonstrate all dia facets for dis 6-5 win over Bayern. Dazzling attack for first leg, then well-drilled defending for second leg. Dem show same qualities against Liverpool for quarter-final, winning at Anfield again.
Dembele, wey na expensive misfit for Barcelona, don become Ballon d'Or winner under Luis Enrique. E celebrate winning tackle as wild as e celebrate goal. Dat image show di transformation wey PSG head coach bring.
Bayern try dia best, but dem come up against superior operators. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard say, “A couple of years ago dem get prima donnas, but Luis Enrique push dem aside and build team on work-rate. Dis team fit dominate for years.”
Arsenal go enter final as only unbeaten side for Champions League dis season. Dia defence keep nine clean sheets for 14 matches. Dem fit match PSG attack. But PSG don score 44 goals dis European campaign, one behind record set by Barcelona for 2000.
Di final go hold for Puskas Arena for Budapest. Kick-off na 18:00 CET. If scores level after normal time, extra time and penalties go decide winner. The Killers go headline di Kick Off Show.
Arsenal go need to find way to stop PSG wey be best for Europe right now. Arteta go produce something from im sleeve, but e go hard.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
