PSG clinches historic Champions League double in Budapest thriller
PSG clinches historic Champions League double in Budapest thriller
Paris Saint-Germain cemented their European dominance by repeating as Champions League winners, overcoming Arsenal in a dramatic final decided by penalties in Budapest.
One year after their triumph in Munich, the French champions secured their second Champions League title by edging out Arsenal in a nail-biting final that stretched into penalty shootouts. The match, played under the lights in Budapest, delivered a spectacle of high stakes and relentless pressure.
The suspense never faded
The opening minutes set an intense tone as Arsenal struck first within five minutes of kickoff, sending shockwaves through the Parc des Princes faithful. Trailing at halftime, the Parisians refused to capitulate. Their resilience shone through in the 64th minute when Ousmane Dembélé, France’s Ballon d’Or winner, converted a decisive penalty to level the score at 1-1.
The tension peaked as neither team could break the deadlock during 90 minutes of regulation play or the 30 minutes of extra time. The drama ultimately unfolded in the penalty shootout, where PSG’s composure and precision secured their historic back-to-back victory.
A legendary achievement
By claiming their second consecutive Champions League title, Paris Saint-Germain etch their name into football history. The feat was previously accomplished only by Real Madrid under Zinédine Zidane’s guidance, who dominated the competition with three titles from 2016 to 2018 in the modern era.
Road to the World Cup begins
Six French players from this 71st Champions League final – Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé from PSG, alongside William Saliba of Arsenal – now prepare to join the Équipe de France camp at Clairefontaine. Their journey continues with a high-stakes friendly against Côte d’Ivoire on June 4 at Nantes’ Stade de la Beaujoire.