Whether scoring or creating, makes the difference for Paris Saint-Germain.
His team-leading 10 goals have played a huge part in helping titleholder PSG reach a second straight Champions League final.
His superb assist put PSG ahead early in a on Wednesday for a 6-5 aggregate win against the six-time champions. That came after the 25-year-old Georgia star’s two goals helped PSG win .
Kvaratskhelia was irrepressible in the semifinals, as he was against Monaco, and earlier in the Champions League campaign.
His awareness led to PSG’s goal three minutes into the return leg and put Bayern on the back foot immediately, when many observers expected PSG to struggle early on.
Kvaratskhelia even started the move that led to PSG’s goal.
Catching Bayern’s midfield napping by dropping deep, he then released Fabi谩n Ruiz with a brilliant flick with the outside of his right foot.
He then spun around to collect Ruiz’s excellent first-time pass before sprinting down the left and picking out Demb茅l茅 with a fine pass across the penalty area. Demb茅l茅 shot powerfully into the roof of the net for his seventh goal of the competition.
Bayern had some spells of possession but never recovered from the early blow and, at the end, Kvaratskhelia鈥檚 boundless energy and runs almost led to another PSG goal.
鈥淲e have a magnificent team, a young team, we fight together,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “We have stars but everyone fights. Look at the last minute, Kvara is cooked (but) kept fighting.”
Demb茅l茅 was PSG’s key player last season, and now it could be Kvaratskhelia’s turn to shine when PSG faces Arsenal in the final on May 30.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very happy, we know it will be very difficult against Arsenal,鈥� Kvaratskhelia said. 鈥淚鈥檓 working every day and getting back with assists or goals. I will do everything for the team.鈥�
Real Madrid won three straight times from 2016-18.
Seamless selection
PSG coach Luis Enrique has shown remarkable flexibility with his team selections, astutely coping with and juggling positional changes without disrupting the efficiency of his team.
He was in the mood to celebrate, in moderation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible,” Luis Enrique said. 鈥淲e have to make the most of this night, but we have to think about the final.鈥�
Although he is on the verge of winning the Champions League for the third time as a coach 鈥� having triumphed with Barcelona in 2015 鈥� the former box-to-box midfielder typically deflected praise away from himself.
鈥淚t shows the kind of players we have and what kind of team we are. I think we showed a level of maturity today,” he said. “Knowing when to defend, when to attack. As a coach it鈥檚 a real pleasure to see this kind of performance.鈥�
He had no hesitation picking Ruiz, who recently returned from a knee injury sustained against Sporting on Jan. 22. Ruiz took the place of Warren Za茂re-Emery, who in turn dropped down to right back to replace the injured
It made little difference to PSG’s rhythm.
Za茂re-Emery had a solid game and largely contained the runs of winger Luis D铆az, who scored a brilliant goal in the first leg and against PSG in a group-stage win in November.
Kvaratskhelia’s ability to defend or attack with equal commitment and aplomb is symbolic of this PSG team and a far cry from the days of on Europe’s biggest stage.
鈥淲hat characterizes us is our mentality,鈥� PSG defender Willian Pacho said. 鈥淥ur forwards help us a lot and we help them to attack.鈥� ___
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