05/24/25 04:49:00
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05/24 16:48 CDT Barcola brace helps PSG to another French Cup heading to
Champions League final
Barcola brace helps PSG to another French Cup heading to Champions League final
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Bradley Barcola scored two goals and set one up as Paris
Saint-Germain beat Reims 3-0 in the French Cup final on Saturday and stayed on
course for its first continental treble.
Barcola was assisted twice by Dsir Dou and created a goal for right back
Achraf Hakimi late in the first half.
The victory gave PSG a record-extending 16th French Cup --- six more than
next-best Marseille --- and completed a domestic double after a
record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title was sealed in dominant fashion.
The only trophy missing in the cabinet of the cash-rich Qatari-backed club is
the Champions League's.
That might change next Saturday.
Coach Luis Enrique's PSG will attempt to win the Champions League for the first
time when it faces Inter Milan in Munich. PSG lost its only other final to
Bayern Munich during the pandemic-shortened 2020 competition.
Reims was once France's top club and reached the Champions League final twice
--- when it was the European Cup --- losing both times to Real Madrid in the
1950s.
But Saturday's contest was a total mismatch with the first half almost
resembling a training session for PSG.
Dou sent Barcola clean through in the 16th minute with a superb angled pass
from midfield and the France winger finished neatly into the bottom left corner.
Three minutes later, Dou found space on the right and his quick pass gave
Barcola an easy finish from close range.
Dou was named in the starting team only shortly before the start after winger
Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia reportedly pulled out with headaches.
With halftime approaching, Barcola whipped over a left-wing cross and Hakimi
volleyed in neatly from close range.
PSG dropped off in the second half and and created little except for Ousmane
Dembl's effort hitting the crossbar.
Luis Enrique is within sight of his second continental treble in 10 years after
achieving the first with Lionel Messi-led Barcelona.
PSG is clearly in form but Inter may be the more match-fit side having
contested a tough Serie A title race all the way to Friday night, when Napoli
sealed it. -__
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