Twelve months after their commanding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, the Parc des Princes-based club faced a far more challenging path to glory in Hungary. While the Gunners began strongly, Paris demonstrated why they are now a force to be reckoned with in high-pressure finals.

An early setback against a disciplined Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup stifled the Parisian attack early on. Kai Havertz, deployed as a lone striker, capitalized on a defensive error to open the scoring in the sixth minute. The German’s powerful strike left goalkeeper Matveï Safonov with no chance, marking his sixth goal contribution in Arsenal’s last six matches.

Arsenal’s high-pressing game kept Paris at bay throughout the first half, with the London side limiting the impact of their star trio of Warren Zaïre-Emery, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Their organization frustrated the French champions, who managed just six shots before the break.

Paris fights back and levels the scores

Frustration grew for the Parisians as the clock ticked toward halftime. The turning point came when Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the box by Cristhian Mosquera in the 62nd minute. Ousmane Dembélé, winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick with a precise cross-shot that beat David Raya.

Paris became more dominant after the equalizer, with Kvaratskhelia nearly adding a second before hitting the post in the 77th minute. Bradley Barcola also came close twice, including a header that rattled the crossbar in stoppage time. Despite dominating possession, the Parisians failed to find a winning goal before extra time.

Masterclass in penalties secures historic double

With the match heading to penalties, Paris confirmed their reputation as specialists in the shootout format. Safonov, who had made crucial saves earlier in the tournament, remained unchallenged this time as Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and William Saliba both failed to find the target. The French side’s flawless execution sealed their place in Champions League folklore.

This victory marks Paris Saint-Germain as only the ninth club in history to achieve back-to-back Champions League titles. Their name now sits alongside footballing giants such as Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Liverpool in the record books.

Key moments and controversies

Despite the euphoria, the match was not without its contentious moments. Arsenal players and staff expressed frustration over several refereeing decisions, including a missed penalty call when Noni Madueke went down under a challenge from Nuno Mendes in extra time. Meanwhile, Cristhian Mosquera’s reckless tackle on Kvaratskhelia went unpunished with only a yellow card, a decision that could have altered the course of the game.