Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele, next to Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L), takes part in a training session on the eve of their second leg semi-final UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal, at the club's training ground in Poissy, west of Paris, on May 6, 2025. (Photo by Franck Fife / AFP)
Doha, Qatar: Paris Saint-Germain stand just 90 minutes away from a return to the UEFA Champions League final, but a hungry Arsenal side awaits them in a high-stakes second leg at the Parc des Princes tonight.
Armed with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and buoyed by the return of their top scorer Ousmane Dembele, PSG will look to seize the moment in front of a home crowd that defender Achraf Hakimi believes could make all the difference.
Dembele’s availability is a major lift for Luis Enrique’s side. The winger, who netted the decisive goal early in the first leg at the Emirates before being forced off in the 70th minute with a hamstring concern, has been declared fit after resuming full training at the start of the week.
“He’s been training with us for the last two days. You saw him today — a normal session. He’ll be available tomorrow,” Enrique confirmed in his pre-match press conference.
With 33 goals in all competitions, Dembele has been PSG’s standout performer this season, combining flair with clinical finishing in a campaign that has seen the Parisian club continue to evolve under Enrique.
Hakimi, one of PSG’s key leaders on the pitch, knows the magnitude of the night. “We already played a semi-final last season. We know what we did well and what we didn’t do well. That’s something that will help us for tomorrow’s game,” he said, referring to their bitter loss in the last four a year ago. This time, the Moroccan is determined to push the team one step further — and he believes the fans have a crucial role to play.
“We know that tomorrow will be a very special evening for all Parisians,” Hakimi said. “The atmosphere at the Parc des Princes is going to be incredible, and we know that even outside the stadium, the whole city will be behind us. I think our fans deserve to go to the final, so we’re going to do everything we can to get there. They’re going to be noisy, they’re going to help us, and they’re going to put pressure on Arsenal.”
PSG will also count on Gianluigi Donnarumma, who continues to attract criticism from some corners despite his big-match credentials. But the dressing room remains firmly behind the Italian. “Gigio is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We’ve always supported him. Having a goalkeeper of his calibre gives us a lot of peace of mind,” Hakimi said.
There was further positive news on the fitness front as South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in also returned to full training after a knock sustained in the weekend's Ligue 1 defeat to Strasbourg. With options available and confidence high, Luis Enrique’s challenge will be in striking the right balance between attack and caution as PSG look to protect their lead while chasing a definitive second-leg performance.
