Champions League Awards: Kvaradona kills Bayern dream | OneFootball

Our Champions League Awards honour the best – and – worst of the semi-final second legs, as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain progressed to the final.

Moment of the Week

The rematch between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain did not quite have the chaos of their nine-goal epic last week, but the Germans will no doubt feel they fell on the wrong side of the drama.

Make no mistake, PSG deserved to progress at the Allianz Arena, but how the game could have been different if decisions had gone Bayern’s way. First, Nuno Mendes avoided a second booking for a clear handball, with the play brought back to penalise Bayern for a handball of their own in the build-up. The evidence of whether the ball did strike Konrad Laimer was inconclusive. Then, with the tie still in the balance, an even more dramatic moment.

The referee waved away Bayern protests after Vitinha blasted the ball against teammate Joao Neves. The ball hit Neves, arm outstretched, on the forearm in the penalty box.

Despite fierce protests from Bayern, the officials waved play on, the correct decision according to the current interpretation of the law, apparently. If a handball occurs after the ball is kicked by one of the player’s team-mates then there is an exemption, another mind-boggling complication to a rule that has become increasingly less and less black and white.

Given the harsh decision to penalise Alphonso Davies for handball in last week’s game and award PSG a penalty, the failure to punish Neves infuriated the Allianz Arena.

Player of the Week

Just how good to watch is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

Rarely do we see a winger built like a super-middleweight boxer, but Kvaratskhelia is just that. Tall, powerful, but with explosive acceleration and rapid changes of direction.

He was a menace to the Bayern defence all evening, setting up the early opener to become the first player in history to score or assist in seven straight UCL knockout games.

He led the game for dribbles (6), completing all of them, and won a game-high 11 duels. He is craft with graft, however, only Fabian Ruiz recorded more ball recoveries than the Georgian (6). A super talent, who appears to be getting better.

Goal of the Week

Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed a dream start at the Allianz Arena after opening the scoring inside three minutes. It was a beautiful move from the holders, who went from back-to-front at real speed.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s neat flick was followed by Fabian Ruiz’s fabulous first-time pass to release the former down the left, who squared for Ousmane Dembele to emphatically open the scoring. A brilliant team goal.

Save of the Week

Age is just a number for Manuel Neuer. After a night to forget in the first leg, the 40-year-old kept Bayern in the tie in the return.

This save from Joao Neves’ header was the best of the lot, after Michael Olise had allowed the PSG midfielder to escape at the back post. He’ll have been grateful to the German giant in goal.

Stat of the Week

It’s been a long wait for Arsenal, but the Gunners are back in the big time. A 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid means Arsenal will contest the Champions League final for only the second time, and the first in 20 years.

It’s the longest wait between two finals for an English club since Liverpool in 2005.

Read – The best Champions League semi-finals of all time

See more – Iconic Performances: Messi twists Bayern Munich inside out

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