Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended their Champions League title for the second time in a nail-biting encounter, beating English powerhouse Arsenal 4-3 on penalties on Saturday night. Both teams were locked at 1-1 after extra time at the Puskas Arena, cementing PSG’s status among Europe’s modern greats.
It was Arsenal’s Gabriel who blasted his spot-kick over Matvey Safonov’s crossbar. His crucial miss handed PSG their second Champions League trophy in 2026.
Considered glamorous underachievers despite vast resources, the Ligue 1 champions have now forged a dynasty under Luis Enrique, marrying attacking brilliance with resilience to establish themselves as the dominant force in European football.
“It’s stronger than last year because we knew before the match just how difficult it would be to play against Arsenal,” said Enrique.
PSG had thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 a year ago to claim Europe’s elite title for the first time.
“As a club and a city, it’s incredible to win, and I think we deserved it over the course of the season. The final was a real battle,” added the Spanish coach.
Days after winning their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal were on course to claim Europe’s biggest prize after Kai Havertz’s sixth-minute opener and a first-hour masterclass in smothering PSG’s vaunted attack.
Under Enrique, PSG have now won all six shootouts they have contested, with the 56-year-old winning 12 of the 13 one-off club finals as a coach.
The French side were left to celebrate being European champions once again, with extra-time substitute Lucas Beraldo scoring the winning penalty in the shootout.
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