PSG cruises into semis

Paris Saint-Germain ended Liverpool’s Champions League run on Tuesday, winning 2-0 at Anfield and moving into the semifinals. (uefa.com) Ousmane Dembélé scored in the 72nd minute and again in stoppage time to finish the tie 4-0 on aggregate after Paris had already won the first leg 2-0 on April 8. (espn.com) Liverpool opened with more urgency and Arne Slot started Alexander Isak for the first time since December, but Matvei Safonov denied early chances and Marquinhos blocked Virgil van Dijk after a rebound in the first half. (uefa.com) The home side thought it had a route back when the referee awarded a second-half penalty, but Video Assistant Referee review overturned the call before Dembélé beat Giorgi Mamardashvili from the edge of the area. (espn.com) Paris arrived as the defending European champion and is now back in the last four, still chasing a second straight title. Luis Enrique’s team had already eliminated Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 before knocking out Liverpool. (espn.com) (uefa.com) The result also keeps Paris on the tougher side of the bracket, where its semifinal opponent will come from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Bayern took a 2-1 first-leg lead into the second leg on Wednesday, April 15. (uefa.com) (espn.com) For Liverpool, the defeat ended another attempted Anfield comeback after a two-goal first-leg loss in Paris. The club’s recent route to the quarterfinals had included a 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray in the round of 16. (espn.com) (uefa.com) The semifinal first legs are scheduled for April 28 and 29, with the second legs on May 5 and 6. Paris is now two rounds from the final in Budapest on May 30. (uefa.com)