A year after their dominant 5-0 victory against Inter Milan in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain faced a starkly different challenge in Budapest. This final proved to be a tense, less free-flowing affair, yet PSG’s experience shone through as they retained their position atop European football. While fans might have anticipated another goal-fest, reminiscent of their 5-4 semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich, the Parisian attack found itself repeatedly thwarted by a formidable Arsenal defense for much of the match.

This monumental achievement solidifies Paris Saint-Germain’s place in football history, making them just the ninth club to achieve back-to-back Champions League victories. They now stand alongside an illustrious list of giants, including Real Madrid (1956-1960, 2016-2018), Benfica (1961, 1962), Inter Milan (1964, 1965), Ajax Amsterdam (1971-1973), Bayern Munich (1974-1976), Liverpool (1977, 1978), Nottingham Forest (1979, 1980), and AC Milan (1989, 1990).

Beyond the early goal, Arsenal’s game plan executed flawlessly in the first half. Their intense pressing and superior aggression overwhelmed PSG. Although Paris managed six shots before the break, David Raya remained largely untroubled, as Arsenal’s 4-2-3-1 formation effectively neutralized the threat posed by PSG’s attacking trio of Doué, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia. The latter, so influential in previous rounds, struggled to find space until he ignited Paris’s resurgence.

Parisians’ patience rewarded

With PSG still scoreless as the hour mark approached, the Georgian forward Kvaratskhelia collapsed in the box after a one-two with Ousmane Dembélé, brought down by a challenge from Cristhian Mosquera in the 62nd minute. Though Vitinha initially took the ball for the spot-kick during the VAR review, he deferred to the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, whose precise right-footed strike beat David Raya in the 65th minute. Having shown improvement since halftime, Paris gained further momentum after equalizing and might have secured victory before extra time.

Kvaratskhelia, surging down the left flank, narrowly missed a potential winner, hitting the post in the 77th minute after being pressured by William Saliba and Jurriën Timber. Bradley Barcola was denied by a quick save from Raya in the 85th minute and then struck the side netting in the 90th+7 minute, while a powerful shot from Vitinha grazed the upright in the 89th minute. As Ousmane Dembélé limped off injured before extra time, fatigue visibly set in for both teams, making the penalty shootout an inevitable conclusion. Paris once again demonstrated their dominance in this high-pressure scenario.

PSG: Penalty shootout masters

Paris Saint-Germain reaffirmed their absolute mastery of the penalty shootout, securing their fourth consecutive trophy in this fashion. This impressive streak includes the European Supercup against Tottenham on August 3rd (2-2, 4-3 p.s.o.), the Intercontinental Cup against Flamengo with Matveï Safonov’s four saves on December 17th (1-1, 2-1 p.s.o.), and the Trophée des Champions against Marseille on January 8th (2-2, 4-1 p.s.o.). In this final, Safonov didn’t even need to make a save; both Eberechi Eze and Gabriel, despite an otherwise stellar performance, sent their shots wide of the target.

Referee Daniel Siebert under fire

The appointment of German referee Daniel Siebert for the final, which had drawn criticism and notably saw him omitted from the World Cup list, culminated in a challenging match for the official. He remained passive when Bukayo Saka appeared to handle the ball in his own box during a clearance in the 16th minute. Parisian frustration mounted as Arsenal frequently engaged in time-wasting tactics and cynical fouls.