Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) successfully defended their UEFA Champions League crown on Saturday, defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a thrilling 1-1 draw following regulation and extra time at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
The French champions secured back-to-back European titles after Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes missed the decisive penalty, blasting his effort over the crossbar to hand PSG victory.
Arsenal made a bright start and took the lead in the sixth minute through Kai Havertz, who broke clear of the defence before firing past PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
Despite falling behind, PSG dominated possession for long periods and eventually drew level in the 65th minute when Ousmane Dembele converted from the penalty spot.
The match remained deadlocked after 90 minutes and extra time, forcing the Champions League final into a penalty shootout for the first time in a decade.
Arsenal had earlier squandered another opportunity from the spot, with Eberechi Eze failing to convert, while goalkeeper David Raya kept the Gunners in contention by saving Nuno Mendes’ penalty.
PSG held their nerve in the shootout, with Lucas Beraldo converting the club’s final kick before Gabriel’s miss sparked wild celebrations among the French side’s players and supporters.
Speaking after the victory, PSG captain Marquinhos praised his team’s determination to defend the title.
“It’s incredible, back to back. 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,” he said.
PSG manager Luis Enrique described the triumph as a reward for the team’s consistency throughout the campaign.
“It’s even more special because we knew before the match how difficult it would be. I think it’s deserved over the course of the whole season, even if the final was very closely contested,” Enrique said.