One year after their dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain experienced a vastly different final in Budapest. Despite the contrasting style of play, the French giants relied on their championship experience to secure the historic back-to-back trophy. The match lacked the attacking flair fans had anticipated, with both teams locked in a tactical stalemate for long periods.

Arsenal takes early lead in tactical masterclass

Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta deployed an unexpected tactical setup, opting to start Kai Havertz as a lone striker. The German forward justified his manager’s faith immediately, capitalizing on a Marquinhos clearance interception to sprint past the PSG defense before unleashing a powerful strike past Matveï Safonov in the sixth minute. This marked Havertz’s third goal in six Champions League finals appearances across two different clubs—a feat only matched by Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandžukić in modern football history.

PSG’s resilience turns the tide

The Parisians struggled to find rhythm against Arsenal’s high-pressing system, managing just six shots on target before halftime. However, their experience proved decisive as Ousmane Dembélé equalized in the 65th minute after a clever interplay with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Despite several golden opportunities in the second half, including a Vitinha header and Kvaratskhelia strikes that rattled the woodwork, neither team could break the deadlock in regulation time.

Historic penalty shootout victory

With fatigue setting in during extra time, the match inevitably drifted to penalties. Paris Saint-Germain continued their perfect record in shootout situations, converting all four of their attempts while Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Gabriel missed the target. This victory marked PSG’s fourth consecutive trophy decided by penalties, following triumphs in the UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, and French Super Cup earlier in the season.

Elite company in European football history

By securing back-to-back Champions League titles, Paris Saint-Germain joins an exclusive list of clubs who have achieved this remarkable feat: Real Madrid (1956-60 and 2016-18), Benfica (1961-62), Inter Milan (1964-65), Ajax Amsterdam (1971-73), Bayern Munich (1974-76), Liverpool (1977-78), Nottingham Forest (1979-80), and AC Milan (1989-90). The French capital now holds permanent bragging rights in European football’s most prestigious competition.

Controversial refereeing decisions

The match wasn’t without its contentious moments, particularly surrounding referee Daniel Siebert’s decisions. Arsenal players and staff expressed frustration over missed penalty calls, including one involving Bukayo Saka’s potential handball in the box and another where Noni Madueke appeared to be fouled in the area during extra time. The referee also failed to award a second yellow card to Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera for a reckless challenge on Kvaratskhelia, which might have resulted in an expulsion.