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Good morning, I'm Dan Gartland. I'll admit I was genuinely surprised that the Sixers managed to give the Knicks such a close game without Joel Embiid.
In today's SI:AM:
⚾ Ohtani's hot pitching start
🏇 Trouble for Triple Crown
⛳ Rory's different approach
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Get ready to be a soccer fan
This is shaping up to be a fantastic appetizer before a summer packed with World Cup soccer.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are set to clash in the UEFA Champions League final later this month after both clubs advanced through their semifinal ties this week. The Gunners knocked out Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, while PSG edged past Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The semifinals offered a striking contrast between the two clubs' playing philosophies. Arsenal and Atléti played out a 1–1 draw in the first leg last week before Arsenal ground out a 1–0 win in the second leg to advance on aggregate. Meanwhile, PSG and Bayern produced a thrilling 5–4 first leg in Paris last week, and PSG then secured its place in the final with a 1–1 draw on Wednesday. The final is scheduled for noon ET on May 30.
Arsenal has faced scrutiny this season over its approach under manager Mikel Arteta, with critics pointing to an unusually high proportion of goals coming from set pieces such as corners and free kicks. Arteta, however, has consistently brushed aside those complaints.
"I hear completely the opposite, all around Europe that we are the most exciting team in Europe," the manager said in February. In March, he suggested that fans in search of "beautiful football" might be better served looking elsewhere beyond the Premier League.
Regardless of the aesthetic debate, there's no arguing with the results Arteta's methods have produced. Arsenal currently sits top of the Premier League, five points clear of second-place Manchester City with three matches remaining. The Gunners haven't claimed the league title since 2004, finishing as runners-up in each of the last three seasons — twice behind Manchester City and once behind Liverpool. Their Champions League form has been equally impressive by historical standards. The club's only previous final appearance came in 2006, when they fell to Barcelona. Last season marked just the third time Arsenal had even reached the semifinal stage.
PSG knows all too well what it's like to wait for European glory. Les Parisiens have dominated French domestic football since Qatar's government took ownership in 2011, yet had to be patient for their continental breakthrough. PSG finally got their hands on the Champions League trophy last season following a commanding 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in the final. Now the club will look to become only the second side in Champions League history to defend the title successfully. (Real Madrid won three consecutive titles between 2016 and 2018.)
Even if soccer isn't your primary sport, the Champions League final is always an unmissable occasion. It's a winner-takes-all showdown on a Saturday afternoon for the most coveted trophy in club football. You may not have followed the competition since it kicked off in September, but the final is the perfect gateway into what promises to be a thrilling summer of soccer. The World Cup opening day arrives less than two weeks later, on June 11.
The best of Sports Illustrated
The top five…
… things I saw last night:
5. A rare two-run sacrifice fly to hand the Reds the lead over the Cubs in the ninth inning.
4. Pete Crow-Armstrong's game-tying homer for Chicago in the bottom of the ninth. (The Cubs ultimately won on a walk-off walk.)
3. Devin Vassell's wild shot to beat the shot clock, where he caught the pass already in the air.
2. Jalen Brunson's clutch jumper over a much taller defender late in the Knicks' victory over the Sixers.
1. Kirby Dach's goal for the Canadiens while falling to the ice. (A rare highlight for Montreal in an otherwise tough 4–2 loss to the Sabres.)
Today's best reads
UEFA Champions League Semifinal Second Leg Predictions: Finalists Decided
2025–26 Champions League Final Confirmed—One Match to Decide European Title
2025–26 Champions League Final: Dates, Format, Teams
Declan Rice Reveals Moment He 'Knew' Arsenal Would Make 2026 Champions League Final
Arsenal vs. PSG: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of Champions League Final
Dan Gartland writes Sports Illustrated's flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, and hosts the "Stadium Wonders" video series. He joined the SI staff in 2014, after previously being published on Deadspin and Slate. A Fordham University graduate, Gartland is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).