PSG edged out Arsenal 4-3 on penalties to retain the UEFA Champions League title, after the teams remained level following extra time in the showpiece final of the continental championship in Budapest on Saturday.
PSG boss Luis Enrique joined an elusive list of managers including Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley to win the continental title thrice. Only Carlo Ancelotti, who has accomplished the feat a record five time stands ahead of the pack.
Ousmane Dembele’s second-half spot-kick cancelled out Kai Havertz’s early opener, and shootout misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel ultimately proved decisive for the Gunners at the final hurdle.
The victory handed PSG their second UCL crown, while Arsenal were denied a first-ever continental
title, despite a historic season in which Mikel Arteta ended the club’s 22-year wait for the English top-flight championship.
Havertz, who had scored the winner for Chelsea in the UCL five years earlier, put Arsenal in front early on, racing onto a swift counter-attack before drilling his finish past Sefanov, sending the Arsenal supporters into raptures.
Arsenal protected their narrow lead up to half-time, heading into the interval with Arteta’s side still in control.
PSG emerged the sharper side after the restart, persistently testing the Arsenal back line as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia kept the defenders under constant pressure.
A foul on the marauding Kvaratskhelia in the box by Mosquera prompted the referee to award a penalty. Having failed to breach Arsenal’s defence from open play, PSG seized the opportunity as Dembele thundered his spot-kick beyond the diving David Raya to make it 1-1.
In the shootout, Goncalo Ramos, Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi and Beraldo all converted for PSG, while Nuno Mendes saw his effort saved by Raya. Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli scored their penalties for Arsenal, but the misses from Eze and Gabriel ensured PSG clung on to their title.
