PSG defeat Arsenal to win Champions League trophy
Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal on penalty shootout to win the 2025-26 Champions League final at the Puskás Arena in Budapest on Saturday.
PSG emerged champions for the second consecutive season by winning the penalty shootout after regulation time and extra time ended 1-1.
Gabriel missed his kick to allow PSG win 4-3 after Eberechi Eze had earlier missed for Arsenal. Nuno Mendez also missed his effort for the French side.
Mikel Arteta handed captain Martin Odegaard a start alongside Declan Rice and alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly in the midfield while Kai Havertz led the line, ably supported by Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.
Enrique started with the usual suspects with Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi returning after injury scare before the game.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring with a thumping finish in the fifth minute following a break away move.
PSG dominated the encounter, mostly from the second half, as they were unable to find their way back into the game in the first half.
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Dembele finally restored parity from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after Christian Mosquera fouled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box.
PSG’s Bradley Barcola missed a glorious chance in the last minute of regulation time.
Both sides failed to get the winner as the game went into extra time.
Arsenal had a penalty shout turned down when Mendez appeared to foul Madueke but the referee rejected the appeal.
The extra time also ended goalless before the game went into penalty shootout.
Arsenal have now failed to win the final of the Champions League on two occasions, having also reached the final 20 years ago when they lost to Barcelona.
