Paris Saint-Germain have made history by becoming only the second club to successfully defend the UEFA Champions League title, edging Arsenal in a dramatic final decided by a penalty shootout in Budapest on Saturday night.
The French champions prevailed 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw across 120 minutes, with Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães firing his decisive spot-kick over the crossbar to seal PSG’s triumph.
Arsenal made a dream start in front of a packed and tense crowd, taking the lead in a moment of fortune and sharp finishing.
A clearance attempt from Marquinhos struck Leandro Trossard and fell kindly into the path of Kai Havertz, who surged from near midfield before unleashing a powerful finish from a tight angle that soared into the roof of the net.
The Gunners held their advantage for long spells, frustrating the defending champions with disciplined defending and compact shape.
However, PSG gradually turned the screw in the second half, increasing pressure through sustained possession and quicker attacking transitions.
The breakthrough eventually arrived after a pivotal VAR review. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down inside the box by Cristhian Mosquera, and after a lengthy pause, Ousmane Dembélé kept his composure to send David Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot and restore parity.
Extra time produced few clear chances as both sides appeared cautious, setting the stage for a nerve-shredding shootout. .
PSG held their nerve when it mattered most, while Arsenal faltered at the final hurdle, with Gabriel’s miss proving decisive.
With the victory, PSG join Real Madrid as the only teams since the competition’s rebranding in 1992 to retain the trophy,
matching Madrid’s famous three-peat between 2016 and 2018. It also marked the first Champions League final to be decided on penalties since Real Madrid’s win over Atlético Madrid a decade ago.
