International Desk: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won their second consecutive UEFA Champions League title after beating Arsenal 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw after extra time. Arsenal’s Abeerchi AJ and Gabriel missed from spot kicks in the shootout.
Premier League champions Arsenal, under coach Mikel Arteta, fought back brilliantly to take the match to 120 minutes but were unable to survive. It was their second Champions League final defeat, 20 years after losing to Barcelona in 2006.
Luis Enrique’s team made history by becoming the second club in the Champions League era to win the title in consecutive seasons. Only Real Madrid had achieved the feat before.
“We are very proud, very happy and grateful. As a team, as a family, we deserved it. Look at the fans, how happy we are all.”
PSG had to wait 55 years to win their first Champions League title, 14 of which were under Qatari ownership. A second title could be the start of a new chapter in their long-term dominance.
“Before it was Real Madrid, now we are on that list,” said midfielder Fabian Ruiz. “They played defensive football the whole match, but football did justice. The right team won today.”
Luis Enrique has quickly and effectively rebuilt a new team, ending the team’s star-studded era. His team is now cohesive, dedicated and capable of tearing opponents apart with a fearsomely fast attack.
This is Enrique’s third Champions League title. He is one of only five managers in history to have won the trophy three times, his first as Barcelona manager in 2015.
The match started off disappointingly for PSG. Kai Havertz had put Arsenal ahead after just six minutes. However, Ousmane Dembele equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second half, sending the match into extra time and then a penalty shootout.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said: “It’s very painful to lose a Champions League final on penalties. We blew it all away in the end. Penalty shootouts are a game of chance.”
Arsenal will celebrate their first Premier League title in 22 years on Sunday, but the defeat in Hungary will add a touch of sadness to their joy.
Luis Enrique kept 10 of the 11 players from the team that crushed Inter Milan 5-0 in last year’s final in the match.
In the sixth minute of the match, Marquinhos’ clearance fell on Leandro Trossard and went in front of Havertz. He seized the opportunity to break through the PSG defence and fire a powerful shot into the net from a tight angle.
Arsenal’s disciplined defence, which had conceded just six goals on the way to the final, kept PSG at bay for long periods. Despite PSG having possession of the ball, they were unable to break down Arsenal’s defence.
After the break, PSG started attacking more quickly. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya first saved Achraf Hamiki’s free-kick. Then, after a brilliant exchange with Dembele, Kvaratskheliya was fouled in the box by Cristian Mosquera. Dembele sent Raya the wrong way with a low shot from the penalty spot. It was PSG’s 45th goal of the tournament, equalling the all-time record in the competition.
Kavaratskhelia then hit the post and PSG created several more chances against a tired Arsenal side.
Arsenal had a penalty appeal in extra time for a foul by Nuno Mendes on substitute Noni Madueke, but the referee turned it down.
The match eventually went to a tie-breaker. PSG, who had won three trophies on penalties this season and five consecutive shoot-outs, were confident.
Arsenal’s Eberechi Aje shot wide. Raya then saved Nuno Mendes’ shot. Declan Rice then scored to level the scores at 2-2.
But in the end, Lucas Boraldo scored to give PSG a 4-3 lead. Then, when Arsenal’s fifth shot was taken by Gabriel, it went far over the crossbar and PSG were assured of the title.
With this, the Parisian club lifted the crown of European excellence for the second time in a row.
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