A year after their emphatic 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain faced a far more challenging path to glory in the Hungarian capital. Arsenal, organized and relentless in defense, frustrated the Parisians for long stretches, leaving them to rely on their championship experience to secure the historic achievement.
Arsenal’s early dominance sets the tone
Mikel Arteta’s tactical choices paid immediate dividends as Kai Havertz, deployed as a lone striker, broke the deadlock in the sixth minute. The German international capitalized on a Marquinhos clearance to race clear and fire a powerful shot past Matveï Safonov. This marked Havertz as the first player to score in a Champions League final for two different clubs—a feat previously achieved only by Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandžukić.
Arsenal’s high-pressing system stifled Paris Saint-Germain’s creative trio of Warren Zaïre-Emery, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Despite six first-half attempts from the French side, David Raya remained unperturbed, as the Gunners’ defensive structure neutralized every attacking threat.
Paris Saint-Germain’s resilience turns the tide
The turning point arrived in the 65th minute when Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the area by Cristhian Mosquera. VAR confirmed the foul, and Ousmane Dembélé stepped up to dispatch the penalty with a composed right-foot strike, drawing the match level. The Parisians grew in confidence after the equalizer, nearly securing victory in regulation but for a series of near-misses, including a Kvaratskhelia effort that rattled the crossbar in the 77th minute.
Despite fatigue setting in for both sides, the match drifted into extra time, where Paris Saint-Germain’s superior fitness and tournament experience began to tell. Yet, as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, the deadlock remained unbroken, forcing the decisive penalty shootout.
Historic shootout mastery secures PSG’s legacy
Paris Saint-Germain’s reputation as penalty specialists was once again justified. The Parisians had won four consecutive shootouts heading into this final, including victories in the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and French Super Cup. This time, Matveï Safonov remained unchallenged in goal, while Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Gabriel saw their attempts saved or miss the target entirely, sealing PSG’s historic repeat triumph.
By joining an exclusive group of clubs that have successfully defended their Champions League crown—including Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter Milan, Ajax Amsterdam, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, and AC Milan—Paris Saint-Germain has etched their name into European football’s most prestigious record books.
Controversial moments overshadow the final
The match was not without controversy, particularly regarding refereeing decisions. Daniel Siebert’s handling of key incidents, including a potential handball by Bukayo Saka in the Arsenal box and a reckless challenge by Mosquera on Kvaratskhelia, drew criticism from both dugouts. Mikel Arteta’s frustration boiled over when a clear foul on Noni Madueke went unpenalized in extra time, further highlighting the match’s contentious moments.
