Vitinha Warns Paris Saint-Germain Not To Become Complacent After Arsenal Win

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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. This win marked PSG's first triumph over Arsenal in six encounters, having previously lost 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium during the group stage. Ousmane Dembele's early goal, following a remarkable 26-pass sequence, set the tone for PSG's performance.

Vitinha expressed satisfaction with the team's effort but cautioned against complacency. "It's very difficult to come and win here, we saw that in October," Vitinha told Canal+. "We played a great game, even if we didn't have the ball as usual. That's what great teams show. We have to adapt."

PSG has shown impressive form in recent away knockout games, winning five out of their last seven matches. This is a significant improvement compared to their previous 16 games, where they managed only two draws and nine losses. The victory gives them an advantage heading into the second leg at home.

The team had opportunities to extend their lead late in the match. Joao Neves, Bradley Barcola, and Goncalo Ramos all missed chances to score. Ramos came closest when his shot hit the crossbar in the 85th minute, contributing significantly to PSG's expected goals (xG) tally of 1.14.

Vitinha emphasized the importance of teamwork and collective effort in achieving this result. "No, it's not personal revenge. It's the team," he stated. "We put in a great collective performance; we showed our desire to go to the final." The players are determined to maintain this momentum for their upcoming match at Parc des Princes.

Ramos reflected on his missed opportunity post-match: "I'm working a lot on this type of shot [the one that hits the bar]," he said. He acknowledged that there is still work to be done with another match remaining against Arsenal.

The fans' support was also highlighted by Vitinha as a crucial factor in their success: "The fans are incredible. We're all working together." The team remains focused on delivering another strong performance in front of their home crowd.

As PSG prepares for the second leg, they aim to build on this victory and secure a place in the final. The players are aware of Arsenal's capabilities but remain confident in their ability to perform at top-level football.