Arsenal overcome Atleti as PSG hold on
10 - Bukayo Saka scored the only goal at the Emirates as Arsenal get the better of Atletico Madrid 1-0 on the night, prevailing 2-1 overall. It means the Gunners are back in the Champions League final two decades on from their only previous appearance. In a match where there were very few shots on target, the North Londoners found the breakthrough just before the break, which proved to be enough. Arsenal are still unbeaten in the UCL this term, with this being the 10th time in the competition where they were not defeated at home.
3 - Just as was the case nine years ago, Atletico exit the UCL at the semi-final stage. Los Rojiblancos lost at Arsenal for the second time this term, having also fell during the league phase. With just two shots on target in the 90 minutes, Diego Simeone's men failed to produce the chances they did at home the week prior. On both occasions in this season's competition where they did not score, it happened in North London. Atleti have been eliminated in the UCL by a Premier League side for the third time, all coming within the last decade.
17 - Bayern Munich played the majority of the second leg against Paris Saint-Germain down 1-0 in the match after an early Ousmane Dembele goal. While they needed at least two goals, the Germans were unable to get the job done, as Harry Kane's stoppage time leveller was not enough. The away side advanced 6-5 on aggregate, marking the second semi appearance in a row Die Roten lost at this stage. Remarkably, Bayern drew against PSG for the very first time, after 17 meetings in UEFA club competition play.
2 - PSG return to the final of the Champions League, getting the odd goal out from a high-scoring tie. Les Parisiens were able to thwart Bayern in the return leg, creating several chances to increase their advantage. In the end, the sole goal from Dembele proved to be enough for them. Their reward is a fifth European final, and third in the Champions League. They now have the chance to become the first team in a decade to successfully defend the UCL trophy. For PSG, this is the second time they have made a continental showpiece in successive seasons, having made back-to-back UEFA Cup Winners Cup finals in the 1990s.
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Freiburg, Villa turn things around
25 - What a rise it has been for Freiburg! The Bundesliga club had to come back from a late first leg goal against Sporting Braga at home. After the Portuguese side went down a man inside 10 minutes, the hosts made the most of their man advantage. Three goals later, they were able to successfully hold off Braga, who scored late on to make it 3-1 on the night. Across the two legs, Freiburg prevailed 4-3, allowing them to advance to their maiden European final. They are on the precipice of their first-ever trophy. They have had no problems scoring in the UEL this term, finding the back of the net 25 times.
6 - It is heartbreak for Braga, who have gone the farthest in the Europa League since they made the final back in 2010/11. Heading into the second leg, they just had to keep a clean sheet, and they would be heading to Istanbul. Instead, Mario Dorgeles' sixth minute red card proved to be fatal for them. Playing 84 minutes down a man, the writing seemed to be on the wall. They will hope to return to the UEL next term, a competition where they are quite comfortable. In the meantime, Os Arcebispos rue what was a sixth defeat against a German team in Europe (4-3-6).
8 - Aston Villa were also required to reverse a first-leg defeat against fellow Premier League side Notttingham Forest. They managed to level the tie through Ollie Watkins 11 minutes before the break, before an Emiliano Buendia penalty and a quick-fire John McGinn brace saw them past The Tricky Trees 4-0 at Villa Park. That saw the Villans prevail 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for their maiden UEL final. Coach Unai Emery will lead a team to a sixth final in the competition, winning four of the previous five. Villa kept an eighth clean sheet in the Europa League this term en route to making the final.
1 - Forest's first continental journey in 30 years has come to a disappointing end, but they can take pride in what was another lengthy run. While they sparkled at the City Ground for the first leg, they could not repeat the same magic this time around. With just two attempts on target, they did not test Emiliano Martinez enough to build on their narrow lead from last week. The result is them being knocked out by the hands of a fellow English side. This was the first time that Forest were beaten by a team from England in Europe, having kept clean sheets in all three other matches.
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Palace, Rayo finish off opponents
7 - Crystal Palace will cap off their first continental campaign with a trip to the UEFA Conference League final. A first-half own goal, coupled with an Ismaila Sarr second saw them past Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at home. The Eagles progress 5-2 over the two legs as they will feature in Leipzig in a little less than three week's time. Similar to the first leg, last season's FA Cup winners made the most of their chances to punish the Ukrainians, who again had more shots (17-11). Palace have beaten a club from Ukraine for the third time in this run, scoring seven times in the process.
5 - After a remarkable journey in the UECL this term, Shakhtar's run in the competition has come to an end. The Pitmen will be left regretting the fact they outshot Palace in both legs, but just could not convert enough of their chances. A first European final since the 2008/09 UEFA Cup will have to wait for them. This was their only loss on the road in Europe this term, having won five of the other six. It is rare for Shakhtar to lose both legs of a tie, with the last occasion coming five years ago in the Europa League against Roma.
30 - The other semi-final saw a similar theme, in that Strasbourg could not complete a comeback against Rayo Vallecano. In fact, the French side were once again fortunate to concede just once in the match, though they still fell 1-0 in front of their home fans. That means their UECL run has reached its conclusion one game earlier than they would have desired. With just one win in their last five in the competition, it feels like the Ligue 1 club ran out of steam towards the end. Their defeat suffered at home was their first in 30 years in a UEFA club competition
4 - For the second year running, the Conference League final will be between an English and a Spanish team. Rayo's win in France saw them dominate for much of the game, amassing more than 20 shots. Augusto Batalla's penalty stop at the very end saw Los Franjirrojos hold on for another win, which also saw Spain claim a fifth Champions League spot for next season. In what is just their second season in a UEFA club competition, Rayo became the 13th team from their country to get to a final. They will wish it was against another French team though, seeing they have won all four matches versus Ligue 1 opposition.
