A year after their emphatic victory in Munich against Inter Milan (5-0), PSG faced an entirely different challenge in Budapest. The Parisians relied on their experience to secure back-to-back titles in a tightly contested final where goals were scarce. Despite dreaming of another goal-fest like their semi-final clash with Bayern Munich (5-4), the French side struggled against a disciplined Arsenal side.

Ousmane Dembélé, who scored the decisive goal, delivered the equalizer in the 65th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout. The PSG goalkeeper, Matveï Safonov, remained unbeaten in the shootout, as Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Gabriel failed to find the target. This victory solidifies PSG’s reputation as specialists in penalty shootouts, having won four consecutive shootouts across various competitions.

Arsenal’s early dominance fizzles out

Mikel Arteta’s tactical choices initially paid off, with Kai Havertz opening the scoring in the 6th minute after a defensive error from PSG. The German forward became 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. Arsenal’s high-pressing game stifled PSG’s attacking trio of Doué, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia, keeping them at bay for much of the first half.

PSG’s resilience turns the tide

The turning point came in the 62nd minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the box by Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera, drawing a foul. Dembélé converted the resulting penalty, showcasing his composure under pressure. PSG continued to press, with Kvaratskhelia hitting the post late in the game (77th minute), while Bradley Barcola and Vitinha also came close to scoring. The match, marred by fatigue in the extra time, set the stage for a tense penalty shootout.

A historic achievement and controversial moments

PSG’s victory makes them the ninth club in history to win back-to-back Champions League titles. The match also saw controversial refereeing decisions, including a missed handball by Saka in the box and a questionable tackle by Mosquera that went unpunished. Arteta’s frustration was palpable when a potential penalty for Arsenal was denied in the 103rd minute.

This triumph cements PSG’s place among Europe’s elite and marks a significant milestone in their quest for continental dominance. The club’s ability to deliver in high-pressure situations, particularly in penalty shootouts, continues to set them apart.