PSG Beat Arsenal On Penalties To Retain Champions League Title

PSG Beat Arsenal On Penalties To Retain Champions League Title
Dembélé scored the equaliser before the final went to shootouts.
PSG became the first French club to win back-to-back titles.

Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended their UEFA Champions League crown after defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw after extra time at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the victory saw PSG become the first French club to win back-to-back Champions League titles, adding to their historic 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in the 2025 final.

Arsenal made a dream start to the contest and stunned the reigning champions just six minutes into the game. Leandro Trossard found Kai Havertz inside the penalty area, and the German forward made no mistake as he fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand the Gunners an early lead.

Mikel Arteta’s side controlled large spells of the first half and looked comfortable as PSG struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

However, Luis Enrique’s men emerged with renewed intensity after the break and gradually began to take control of the game.

Their persistence paid off in the 63rd minute when the referee awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Ousmane Dembélé stepped up two minutes later and calmly converted from the spot to bring PSG level and ignite the final.

With the score tied at 1-1, both teams pushed for a winner during regulation time and extra time. Arsenal introduced Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Eberechi Eze from the bench in search of a breakthrough, while PSG responded with Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Gonçalo Ramos.

Despite several promising attacks from both sides, neither team could find the decisive goal, forcing the final into a penalty shootout.

Gonçalo Ramos converted PSG’s opening penalty before Gyökeres responded for Arsenal. Désiré Doué then scored PSG’s second spot-kick, but Eze failed to convert his effort, handing the French side an early advantage.

Nuno Mendes missed the opportunity to extend PSG’s lead, allowing Declan Rice to level the shootout at 2-2.

Achraf Hakimi restored PSG’s advantage with a composed finish, while Martinelli kept Arsenal’s hopes alive by converting his attempt. Lucas Beraldo then scored PSG’s fourth penalty, leaving Gabriel Magalhães needing to score to force sudden death.

The Brazilian defender failed to find the net, sparking wild celebrations among the PSG players and supporters as the French giants secured a 4-3 shootout victory and retained the biggest prize in European club football.