One year after their emphatic 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in Munich, the Parisians faced an entirely different challenge in Hungary. While they had hoped for another high-scoring spectacle like their thrilling 5-4 semi-final victory against Bayern Munich, PSG found themselves repeatedly denied by a disciplined Arsenal defense. Yet, it was their penalty shootout mastery that once again proved decisive, securing a place in footballing history.

Arsenal’s early dominance fizzles out

Arsenal’s game plan under Mikel Arteta started brilliantly. Kai Havertz, deployed as a striker, capitalized on a defensive error from Marquinhos, racing clear before drilling a powerful shot past Matveï Safonov in the sixth minute. The German forward, instrumental in Arsenal’s last six matches with three goals and two assists, etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player to score in a Champions League final for two different clubs—following in the footsteps of legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic.

The Gunners’ high-pressing system stifled PSG’s creative trio of Doué, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia in the first half. Paris managed six shots, but David Raya remained unshaken, making crucial saves to keep his team in the game. The London side’s aggressive approach seemed to be paying off, but the script was far from written.

PSG’s resilience turns the tide

It took PSG until the 65th minute to find their equalizer, but when it came, it was a moment of pure class. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who had been largely muted, orchestrated a swift attack with Ousmane Dembélé before being brought down by Cristhian Mosquera inside the box. The resulting penalty was coolly dispatched by Dembélé, his cross-body strike beating Raya to restore parity. From that point, PSG grew in confidence, testing the Arsenal goalkeeper repeatedly with shots from Bradley Barcola, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha—though the woodwork and Raya’s heroics kept Arsenal in the contest.

With Dembélé forced off injured before extra time, fatigue set in for both teams. PSG’s penalty shootout pedigree shone through once more, as they converted all four of their attempts, while Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both failed to find the target. The ninth club in history to win back-to-back Champions League titles, PSG now join an elite list alongside Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Liverpool, cementing their status as a modern European giant.

Controversial moments overshadow the final

The match was not without its contentious moments. German referee Daniel Siebert faced scrutiny for his leniency, particularly when Bukayo Saka handled the ball in his own box without punishment. Arsenal’s frustration grew further when Noni Madueke went down in the box during extra time, only for the referee to wave play on. Meanwhile, Siebert’s failure to issue a second yellow to Mosquera for his reckless tackle on Kvaratskhelia—an incident that could have seen Arsenal down to 10 men—sparked debate among fans and pundits alike.