Paris Saint-Germain retained their Champions League crown on Saturday night after beating Arsenal in a penalty shoot-out.
Issued on: 30/05/2026 - 21:48Modified: 30/05/2026 - 21:50
3 min Reading time
The match at the Puskas Arena in Budapest ended 1-1 after extra-time. In the nerve-shredding finale, Eberechi Eze missed Arsenal's second penalty. But David Raya saved his blushes when he parried away Nuno Mendes's third shot for PSG. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice converted his team's third penalty to level the shoot-out at 2-2. After Lucas Beraldo fired past Raya with PSG's fifth kick, it meant the Arsenal defender Gabriel had to score to extend the shoot-out into sudden death. But the 28-year-old Brazilian thrashed the ball high over the PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safanov and the cross bar to launch PSG's celebrations. Second team to retain Champions League title The 4-3 shoot-out victory made PSG only the second team after Real Madrid to defend the Champions League since the competition emerged from the European Cup in 1993. Their second crown came in marked contrast to last year's success. PSG were 2-0 up at half-time as they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in May 2025 to brandish European club football's most prestigious trophy for the first time. On a balmy night in the Hungarian capital, Kai Havertz scored the opener for Arsenal in the sixth minute. The 26-year-old Germany international fired past the PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safanov from close range after a driving run into the PSG penalty area. And Arsenal, who claimed the English Premier League title for the first time since 2004, displayed doughtiness to keep PSG at bay. But just after the hour mark, Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera fouled the PSG forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the penalty area and referee Daniel Siebert pointed to the penalty spot. Dembélé levels for PSG Ousmane Dembélé sent Raya the wrong way to level proceedings. Neither side could force the winner and the game went to 30 minutes of extra-time. During the first period, Arsenal demanded a penalty when substitute Noni Madueke was bundled over as he tried to go past Mendes. Siebert refused the claims after checking with his video assistants. During the second-half of extra-time, PSG dominated possession but could not breach a well-drilled Arsenal rear guard. Arsenal's defeat allows Chelsea to maintain the bragging rights as the only London club to lift the Champions League. Chelsea won the title in 2012 following a penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich in Munich. Havertz scored Chelsea's winner when they beat Manchester City 1-0 in Porto for their second title.
