Kolkata : PSG retained their European title on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
The Gunners, fresh from winning their first English Premier League title for 22 years, wasted no time in taking the lead. Leandro Trossard charged down a clearance and Kai Havertz, scorer of the only goal in the 2021 final for Chelsea against Manchester City, strode clear before hammering his finish high past Matvei Safonov from a tight angle.
The holders were unruffled and dominated the reminder of the first half but the Arsenal defence, superbly marshalled by Gabriel and William Saliba, allowed no clear-cut chances and Paris’ frustrations were highlighted by Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué firing over with rare strikes from outside the area. Mikel Arteta’s side could even had doubled their advantage but for a last-ditch block from Marquinhos to deny Havertz a second goal.
Arsenal had only conceded six goals heading into the decider and knew a record-equalling tenth clean sheet of this campaign would bring them a first title, but Cristhian Mosquera felled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the area after a neat exchange of passes and Dembélé sent David Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot to restore parity.
Luis Enrique’s side continued to probe patiently but it was a counterattack that provided their next moment of threat, Kvaratskhelia driving into the area and firing an effort that deflected against the upright. Vitinha and substitute Gonçalo Ramos found the roof and side of the net respectively with late chances but extra time could not be avoided.
The pattern of the contest continued – swathes of Paris possession but little goalmouth action – and a first penalty shoot-out in the decider since 2016 was the outcome.
There, Eberechi Eze swept wide and Nuno Mendes immediately saw his effort saved by David Raya before the last, and decisive moment, of the shoot-out, Gabriel firing over to ensure Paris became the first side to retain the trophy since Real Madrid in 2018.
Luis Enrique won his third Champions League final as a coach, having previously led Barcelona to the title in 2015 and Paris last season – only Carlo Ancelotti with five has more. He also became the first Spanish coach to win back-to-back European Cup/Champions League titles since José Villalonga, who achieved the feat with Real Madrid in 1955/56 and 1956/57.
With this historic win, PSG became only the second side to have successfully defended the title in the UEFA Champions League era.
