Donnarumma key to PSG in race to final

Donnarumma of PSG during UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between Arsenal at Emirates in London, United Kingdom on April 29, 2025. [AFP]

Ousmane Dembele and his fellow attacking players may have stolen most of the limelight on Paris Saint-Germain's run in this season's Champions League, but the form of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been just as important in taking the French giants to the brink of the final.

PSG host Arsenal at the Parc des Princes today in the second leg of their semi-final and come into the match with a 1-0 lead following last week's clash in London.

Dembele scored the only goal at the Emirates Stadium, his 33rd of the season in all competitions, further underlining his status as the leader of the Paris attack in the wake of Kylian Mbappe's departure.

But Donnarumma played a key part too, with five saves, including two of the highest class to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

The Italian was also posted missing when Arsenal scored early in the second half, coming off his line at a free-kick and getting nowhere near the ball, only to be rescued by an offside decision.

But Donnarumma's shot-stopping allowed Luis Enrique's side to thwart the Gunners and followed decisive contributions against Liverpool and Aston Villa in each of the two previous rounds.

"To be champions, you need a great goalkeeper," said PSG captain Marquinhos after Donnarumma's array of saves prevented them from caving in completely to a Villa fightback in the second leg of their quarter-final.

PSG won the first leg 3-1 at home and were two goals ahead at half-time in the return, only for Villa to score three times and threaten to level the tie.

Donnarumma came to the rescue with superb interventions to keep out a Marcus Rashford shot and a Youri Tielemans header in particular.