JAKARTA - Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made history by becoming the second Champions League champion after last season also won this elite European competition.
Les Parisiens became champions after winning a penalty shootout 4-3 against final debutants Arsenal, after a 1-1 draw for 120 minutes in the final at the Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday.
PSG won the Champions League back to back to confirm their status as one of the major forces in European football.
Arsenal took the lead quickly when the match was only five minutes in. Starting from Marquinhos' pass which hit Leandro Trossard, the ball fell to Kai Havertz's feet.
The German attacker made a solo run into the box before firing a hard shot from a tight angle that Matvey Safonov failed to parry.
Behind 0-1, PSG immediately took over the game. Fabian Ruiz got a chance in the 13th minute after receiving a pass from Desire Doue, but his shot was off target.
Arsenal almost doubled the lead in the 26th minute through a cross from Bukayo Saka that led to Leandro Trossard. However, Safonov was quick to come out of his nest to cut off the flow of the ball.
PSG continued to attack Arsenal's defense throughout the first half. Ousmane Dembele fired a hard shot in the 37th minute, which was blocked by Gabriel Magalhaes.
Several attempts by Dembele, Desire Doue, and Fabian Ruiz at the end of the first half were also unable to penetrate David Raya's goal.
Arsenal maintained the 1-0 lead until the break.
In the second half, PSG appeared more aggressive. Achraf Hakimi threatened with a free kick in the 55th minute which was thwarted by Raya.
The momentum for PSG's revival came in the 62nd minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down by Cristhian Mosquera in the penalty area while welcoming Dembele's pass.
The referee pointed to the white spot after receiving confirmation from VAR.
Dembele, who was trusted to be the executor, carried out his duties perfectly.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner kicked the ball from the left corner of the goal that Raya failed to read and made the score change to 1-1 in the 64th minute.
The goal increased PSG's confidence. Vitinha tried his luck with a long-range shot in the 73rd minute, while Kvaratskhelia almost brought PSG ahead in the 77th minute if his shot had not hit the post.
Arsenal responded by including Jurrien Timber, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, and Noni Madueke. Even so, both teams failed to add goals until the end of normal time.
The extra time was tight with limited opportunities.
Raya was quick to quell PSG's attacks several times, while Arsenal almost scored the winning goal through Jurrien Timber's shot from a narrow angle that went wide of the goal.
Because the score remained 1-1 for 120 minutes, the status of the Champions League champion had to be determined through a penalty shootout.
PSG appeared calmer in the first half.
Goncalo Ramos, Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi, and Lucas Beraldo successfully carried out their duties, while Nuno Mendes failed to score.
From Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Martinelli managed to score. However, Eberechi Eze's shot and Gabriel Magalhaes failed to lead to the goal.
Gabriel's failure as the last kicker ensured PSG's 4-3 victory which brought Les Parisiens to retain the Champions League title.
The line-up
PSG (4-3-3): Matvey Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele (Goncalo Ramos 90'), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Bradley Barcola 83')
Arsenal (4-3-3): David Raya; Cristhian Mosquera (Jurrien Timber 66'), William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie; Martin Odegaard (Viktor Gyokeres 66'), Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly (Martin Zubimendi 91'); Bukayo Saka (Noni Madueke 83'), Kai Havertz (Eberechi Eze 91'), Leandro Trossard (Gabriel Martinelli 83')
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