Hakimi scores as PSG confirm UEFA Champions League final berth

Photo Credit: @PSG_inside/X

Could this finally be the year for Paris Saint-Germain? The French giants are through to the UEFA Champions League final after Wednesday's 2-1 semifinal second leg victory over Premier League club Arsenal. Moroccan superstar Achraf Hakimi put the Parisians beyond reach with his second half strike to confirm an eventual 3-1 aggregate victory.

With Arsenal mounting a decent effort to come back into the tie, Hakimi collected a pass from Ousmane Dembélé in the penalty area before quickly turning and firing past Gunners goalkeeper David Raya. The 72nd minute goal was the death blow to Arsenal's hopes, providing insurance that became useful when Bukayo Saka scored a few minutes later.

Arsenal created plenty of opportunities but timely key plays kept PSG in the driver's seat. Fabián Ruiz's 27th minute rocket continued Arsenal's frustration from a 0-1 first leg defeat at home, giving PSG a two-goal aggregate edge by halftime.

Raya made a massive save from Vitinha's penalty kick in the second half but only a few minutes later it was Hakimi who made it 3-0 on the aggregate score with his third Champions League goal of the season.

Hakimi has been an ever present sight in the PSG team as they move closer to a historic season. After years of disappointment in continental competition after massive spending sprees, something feels different about this year's version, something Hakimi acknowledged in a post-match interview after their first leg victory in London.

"I think that the biggest change right now is we are a team. I think the players that play, also the players that didn't play, we play for each other and we run for each other. We are all together, we are a family."

"The coach (Luis Enrique) he says: We are like eleven attackers and eleven defenders. So when you see your striker (Dembele, Doue, Kwara) running at the first defender it gives us power to run with them also and be strong together."

PSG now advance to the final against Italy's Inter Milan which will be on May 31. A week before that, they will face Stade Reims in the final of the Coupe de France where they will look to complete a domestic league and cup double.