Paris Saint-Germain wins the Champions League after penalty shootout victory against Arsenal.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal faced off in front of a sold-out crowd at Budapest’s Puskás Arena. It was the French club’s third appearance and the English club’s second in the final of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
PSG lost to Bayern Munich in 2020 (0–1), but in 2025, they won the Champions League trophy with a dominant 5-0 victory over Italy’s Inter Milan.
Arsenal last reached the final twenty years ago, where they suffered a 1-2 defeat to Spain’s FC Barcelona.
The match began with a quick goal. After a botched Parisian clearance, the ball bounced off Trossard to Arsenal’s German forward, Kai Havertz, who broke down the left flank, then, drifting slightly wide, blasted the ball into Szafonov’s net from about 4 meters out (0-1).
From that point on, the English team dropped deep in front of their goal to deny PSG’s lightning-fast attackers enough space to play their combination game. Arsenal achieved their goal, as the Parisians were unable to create a single serious scoring opportunity in the first half.
In stoppage time of the first half, a sliding tackle by Marquinhos prevented Havertz from scoring a second goal.
PSG’s dominance on the field paid off with a goal in the second half. Dembélé equalised from a legitimate penalty after Kvaratskhelia was fouled (1-1).
Arsenal played a bit more openly after that, but PSG remained the more dangerous side. With about fifteen minutes left in regulation time, Kvaratskhelia hit the crossbar with a shot that took a slight deflection off a London defender.
The final goes to extra time
The Parisians remained the more active side. Vitinha came closest to scoring; the midfielder’s shot went just over the crossbar, and the score remained unchanged until the end of regulation time.
The last time there was extra time in the Champions League final, Real Madrid was drawing 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in 2016. Real Madrid went on to win on penalties.
No goals have been scored in the first 15 minutes of extra time.
Boos from Arsenal fans rang around the stadium after the referee turned down a penalty appeal by Noni Madueke following a challenge by Willian Pacho.
Arsenal's Declan Rice was livid that a spot kick wasn’t given and took his disgruntlement too far, getting a yellow card from the referee.
This has been the first time Hungary has hosted European club football’s showpiece game.
Source: Euronews
--Agencies
