Paris Saint-Germain traveled to the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals against Arsenal. In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the 2024–25 season, Ousmane Dembele struck early to give the French side the lead.
Right from kickoff, PSG applied high pressure on Arsenal and quickly asserted control. In the 4th minute, after a sharp build-up, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia delivered a pinpoint cross to Dembele, who finished at the far post with a strike that left goalkeeper David Raya with no chance.
Dembele has been a standout under Luis Enrique, emerging as one of Europe’s top scorers in the 2024–25 season with 32 goals and 12 assists in 44 appearances. This has marked the 8th goal scored in this edition of the Champions League, sitting in 5th position in the scoreboard.
The French winger’s contribution has been pivotal to PSG’s success in Europe this season. So far in the 2024–25 Champions League, he has been directly involved in 11 goals—tying Kylian Mbappe’s club record for most goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign, set in 2020–21.
Dembele breaks Lionel Messi’s Champions League mark at PSG
Lionel Messi spent two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain but was unable to guide the team past the quarterfinal stage in the Champions League. In contrast, Dembele has reached the semifinals twice in his first two campaigns—and has now eclipsed Messi in another major stat.
see also
PSG coach Luis Enrique sends strong warning to Arsenal ahead of Champions League semifinal
With his latest goal, Dembele has reached 10 Champions League goals for PSG, surpassing Messi’s tally of nine. The French winger achieved the mark in 24 appearances, while Messi scored his nine goals in just 14 matches.
