PSG defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties to retain the UEFA Champions League crown after the teams remained level following extra time in the showpiece clash of the continental competition in Budapest on Saturday.
PSG star Achraf Hakimi became the most decorated African player with 19 major trophies to his name as a result of the win, going past Ivory Coast icon Yaya Toure and Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o who have 18 major titles.
PSG’s second UCL crown on the trot, was also Hakimi third as he clinched the European crown with Real Madrid in the 2017-18 season.
Ousmane Dembele’s second-half spot-kick cancelled out Kai Havertz’s early strike, and shootout misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel ultimately proved decisive for the Gunners at the final hurdle.
With the victory, PSG secured their second UCL title, while Arsenal were denied a first-ever continental trophy, despite a landmark season in which Mikel Arteta ended a 22-year wait for the English top-flight title for the club.
Havertz, who had scored to help Chelsea win the UCL five years ago, put Arsenal in front early on, racing onto a swift counter-attack to create space and fire past Sefanov, sending the travelling Gunners support into celebration.
Arsenal preserved their lead as the teams went into the interval, with Arteta’s side successfully protecting their advantage until half-time.
PSG emerged sharper after the restart and continually tested the Arsenal backline, with Kvaratskhelia keeping the Gunners’ defence under constant pressure.
A foul on the marauding Kvaratskhelia in the area by Mosquera prompted the referee to award a penalty. Having struggled to break down Arsenal in open play, PSG seized the opportunity as Dembele drilled his spot-kick beyond the diving David Raya to level the scores.
In the shootout, Goncalo Ramos, Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi and Beraldo converted for PSG, while Nuno Mendes had his effort saved by Raya. Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli scored from the spot for Arsenal, but misses from Eze and Gabriel ensured PSG held on to their title.
