PSG claims back-to-back Champions League titles in dramatic final
PSG claims back-to-back Champions League titles in dramatic final
Paris Saint-Germain secured their second consecutive Champions League crown with a thrilling victory over Arsenal in Budapest on May 30. The match remained deadlocked until the very last moment, with the outcome decided in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
The Paris-based club entered the final as defending champions, having triumphed in Munich 12 months earlier. This time, they faced a resilient Arsenal side that struck first just five minutes into the match.
The Gunners’ early goal left the Parc des Princes faithful stunned, but PSG fought back with a 64th-minute equalizer from French Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, who converted a decisive penalty.
The tension never subsided. Neither regular time nor 30 minutes of extra play could separate the two sides. It was only after a grueling penalty shootout that PSG emerged victorious, adding another star to their European legacy.
Historic back-to-back triumph
Paris Saint-Germain etched their name into footballing lore by becoming just the second club in the modern Champions League era to win back-to-back titles. The feat had previously been achieved only by Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane, who secured three consecutive victories from 2016 to 2018.
Road to the World Cup begins
Seven French internationals featured in this 71st edition of the Champions League final—Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) and William Saliba (Arsenal). They now join the French national team camp at Clairefontaine ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. A preparation match against Ivory Coast is scheduled for June 4 at Nantes’ Stade de la Beaujoire.
