Paris Saint-Germain cemented its place among European football’s elite on Saturday night after defeating Arsenal F.C. 4-3 on penalties to successfully defend the UEFA Champions League title in a thrilling final that ended 1-1 after extra time in Budapest.
The dramatic victory at the Puskás Aréna made PSG only the second club in the modern Champions League era to retain the trophy after Real Madrid C.F., further underlining the French club’s emergence as the dominant force in European football.
The decisive moment came during the penalty shootout when Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães blasted his spot-kick over the crossbar, sparking wild celebrations among PSG players and supporters.
Captain Marquinhos hailed his side’s achievement after lifting the trophy for a second consecutive year.
“It’s incredible,” Marquinhos said.
“From the very first day of this season, the coach said it’s hard to win, and winning twice is even more difficult. So we all had to get back to work. That was the mentality.”
The triumph also marked a third Champions League title as a coach for Luis Enrique, placing him alongside some of the greatest managers in the competition’s history.
By securing another European crown, Enrique joined an exclusive group that includes Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola as coaches with at least three European Cup or Champions League titles.
“It’s even more special because we knew before the match how difficult it would be,” Luis Enrique said.
“I think it’s deserved over the course of the whole season, even if the final was very closely contested.”
Unlike last year’s emphatic 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final, PSG faced a far sterner challenge against an Arsenal side that arrived in Budapest as Premier League champions and one of Europe’s most formidable defensive units.
Arsenal stunned the holders by taking the lead after just six minutes through Kai Havertz, whose finish capped a swift counter-attacking move and put Mikel Arteta’s men in control.
The early goal forced PSG to dominate possession for long periods, but clear-cut opportunities proved difficult to create against Arsenal’s disciplined defensive structure.
The breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute when referee Daniel Siebert awarded PSG a penalty after defender Cristhian Mosquera brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inside the area.
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé calmly converted from the spot to level the contest and send the Champions League final into extra time for the first time in a decade.
PSG came close to winning before penalties, with Kvaratskhelia striking the post in the 77th minute and substitute Bradley Barcola squandering a late opportunity when he fired wide.
Arsenal, despite controlling only 24.7 per cent possession—the lowest recorded in a Champions League final since Opta began tracking the statistic in 2004—continued to frustrate PSG and remained firmly in the contest until the shootout.
The penalty drama saw Eberechi Eze miss an early effort for Arsenal, while goalkeeper David Raya kept his team alive by saving from Nuno Mendes.
However, PSG regained the advantage when Lucas Beraldo converted his kick, leaving Gabriel needing to score to force sudden death. The Brazilian defender instead sent his effort high over the bar and into a section packed with jubilant PSG supporters.
The latest triumph reinforces PSG’s growing dynasty under Luis Enrique, whose youthful squad continues to mature and dominate at the highest level.
Teenage star Désiré Doué warned that the newly crowned champions have no intention of slowing down.
“It’s crazy, it’s crazy. We’re going to enjoy it first, and after we’re going to work and work again because we want more,” Doué told TNT Sports.
“We are really hungry. We are a young team, and we know we are really ambitious. So next season we have to go again.”
For Arsenal, the defeat extends one of the most painful records in European football history. The North London club has now played 226 matches in the European Cup and Champions League without ever lifting the trophy, more than any other club in the competition’s history. Despite winning the Premier League and reaching the final, Mikel Arteta’s side must once again wait for a breakthrough on Europe’s biggest stage.
AP
