Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 (4-3 on pens.) Arsenal
Welcome to Hungary!
The reigning European champions and champions of France against the newly crowned champions of England.
In the red corner was Arsenal, resolute and full of confidence after ending the club’s 22-year title drought.
In the blue corner was the holders, Paris St Germain, looking to build on last year’s five-star showing and become only the second club ever to win back-to-back Champions League titles.
A season-ending showdown at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, this SBOTOP scribbler could only hope the showpiece of the European season would once again be fully focused on the football without some of the incompetent decisions which marred the semi-finals.
Highlights of the game
PSG had one clear advantage before a ball was kicked, knowing that Arsenal couldn’t really risk Dutch full-back Jurrien Timber from the outset as he returned from more than two months on the sidelines. That situation was compounded by injury to Ben White, who recently damaged medial ligaments, which meant the Gunners were fielding their third choice right back against the world’s most in-form attacker, Khvicha Kvaretskhelia.
Any perceived advantage was quickly forgotten just six minutes in when Arsenal, playing in only their second ever European Cup/Champions League Final (and 20 years after their first), made a dream start.
It was Kai Havertz, who scored the winner for Chelsea against Manchester City in the 2021 final, who burst down the left wing and, with no opponent closing him down, the German kept running into the penalty area and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
A perfect start for Arsenal in terms of both taking the lead and the remainder of the contest as the position meant they did not need to chase the game and could play to their strengths.
After conceding only once in their last five matches, they were always likely to be difficult to break down and so it proved.
In fact, a combination of disciplined defending, and a little bit of last-ditch rearguard action, meant it wasn’t until fourth minute of first half stoppage time that the Parisiens registered a shot on target.
David Raya, whose handling was impeccable throughout, was alert to the effort of Fabian Ruiz and gathered the ball at the second attempt.
Despite PSG pressure growing, Arsenal were holding firm until Cristhian Mosquera, the man filling in for Timber, took out Kvaratskhelia in the box and, while he avoided a second yellow card, the otherwise quiet reigning Ballon d’Or holder, Ousmane Dembele, sent Raya the wrong way from the spot.
With 12 minutes remaining, it looked like the decisive moment may arrive as Kvaratskhelia was too quick and skilful to be stopped and seemed set to hit the target until talented youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly managed to get a foot to the shot and the ball bounced off the left-hand upright.
Both teams wasted good openings to snatch a possible winner in normal time, not least PSG when Vitinha clipped the ball narrowly over with just Raya to beat.
As we anticipated another half an hour of Champions League 2026 highlights, the question remained, who had the greater motivation?
So much of elite sport is in the mind and, fresh from winning the Premier League, Arsenal had the belief, while PSG boss Luis Enrique insisted his side’s desire to retain the trophy was greater than Arsenal’s quest to be crowned European champions for the first time.
As the Champions League 2026 betting odds remained on a knife-edge, Arsenal appeared to have a slightly stronger bench with players returning from injury and they appealed for a penalty in the first period of extra-time, believing Nuno Mendes had bundled over substitute Noni Madueke.
One goal would almost certainly win it or the 2026 Champions League Final would be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
It was the latter and, while both teams could stand proud, one would be delighted, the other devastated.
In truth, neither side deserved to lose over 120 minutes as both teams played to their strengths, albeit very different styles.
For Arsenal and the superb Gabriel, who missed the decisive spot-kick, a harsh finale as their gameplan largely worked and they stayed unbeaten in this season’s Champions League until the very last kick.
For PSG, who triumphed 4-3 on penalties, the purist will say the best side won and Luis Enrique now joins a fairly exclusive club of coaches who have sealed back-to-back European Cups (Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, Arrigo Sacchi at Milan, Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and Bob Paisley at Liverpool amongst them).
They are champions of Europe – again!
Key statistics
PSG have lost only one of their last 13 matches against English opposition (won 10, drawn two) and are unbeaten in 10.
Les Parisiens have lost only two of their last 21 European matches (won 13, drawn six) and only two of their last 18 in the Champions League knockout phase (won 13, drawn three).
Dembele’s second half penalty was PSG 45th goal in this season’s competition, a new modern-era single-season record.
PSG also became only the second side to field the same 10 outfield players in back-to-back Champions League finals after Real Madrid did the same in 2017 and 2018.
Havertz’s opener meant he became only the third player to score for two different teams in a Champions League final (Chelsea, Arsenal), after Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid) and Mario Mandzukic (Juventus, Bayern Munich).
Until tonight, Arsenal had won three successive matches against French teams, all without conceding. Arsenal’s tally of nine clean sheets this season is one short of the record for a single Champions League campaign, held jointly by Arsenal themselves (2005/06) and Real Madrid (2015/16).
What’s next?
That officially rounds off a highly successful 2025-26 campaign for both clubs, although right now the Gunners will naturally be despondent.
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