PSG Counts on Safonov in Bid for Champions League Final. The Parisian club holds an advantage ahead of the return match against Bayern. Safonov starts after Donnarumma's departure. The coach's decision is linked to the Russian goalkeeper's penalty reliability.
Paris Saint-Germain is preparing for the decisive Champions League semifinal match against Bayern, holding a narrow advantage after the first leg. The spotlight is on Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, who was entrusted with the starting spot by the coaching staff following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s departure. The decision is linked not only to personnel changes, but also to Safonov’s proven reliability as a penalty specialist.
Safonov has faced 41 penalties in official matches during his career, saving 10 of them—that’s nearly a 25% success rate. For PSG, he has so far stopped one out of five spot kicks, with his sole European save coming at this stage of the tournament. In the first semifinal against Bayern, Safonov was unable to stop Harry Kane, but the coaching staff expects the Russian’s experience to be valuable in the return leg.
After Donnarumma’s departure, the club signed young goalkeeper Chevalier from Lille, but he has not convinced Luis Enrique that he is ready for matches of this level. Moreover, Chevalier suffered a thigh injury and will not be able to play in Munich, although he traveled with the team for support. Injured Achraf also joined the squad for the trip.
Ahead of the match in Munich, PSG is facing the anticipated pressure from Bayern's attacking line, determined to overturn the deficit. In such situations, the goalkeeper's role becomes critically important, especially if it comes down to penalties or tense moments in the box. Safonov has already proven his composure under pressure: in the Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo, he saved four shots in the post-match shootout, securing victory for his team.
This season, the Champions League has already delivered several surprises. For example, in the other semifinal, Atletico and Arsenal are competing for a place in the final after their draw in Madrid — details on the progress of this duel are available at russpain.com.
For PSG, the task is clear: maintain their advantage and reach a second consecutive Champions League final, something previously achieved only by Real Madrid. If successful, the Parisians will have the chance to match a historic feat and strengthen their standing in European football.
