Champions League final
Thriller in the penalty shootout: PSG manages to defend its title
Updated May 30, 2026 – 9:16 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The game between the defending champions and the “Gunners” goes back and forth. Arsenal got off to a lightning start – but then a real game of nerves developed.
Paris Saint-Germain became the second team in Champions League history to defend the title in the premier class. The French won 4-3 on penalties against Arsenal FC in the final in Budapest and were once again crowned the best club team in Europe after 2025. After regular time it was 1:1 (0:1) and extra time remained without any goals.
Luis Enrique’s team beat FC Bayern in the semi-finals and went into the final against the Londoners slightly favored. Only Real Madrid had managed to defend their Champions League title so far, and even achieved the feat twice between 2016 and 2018.
The German international Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead with a dream goal (6th), and in a hard-fought game Ousmane Dembélé equalized with a penalty kick after a good hour (65th). In the penalty shootout, the Gunners’ players showed their nerve: While PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos, Desiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Beraldo scored and only Nuno Mendes was denied by Arsenal keeper Raya, two of the Londoners missed: Eberechi Eze shot to the left of the goal, and defender Gabriel missed the decisive penalty.
That’s how the game went
The French started with exactly the ten outfield players who overran Inter in the final a year ago. Arsenal relied on Germany’s World Cup hopeful Havertz up front. “He has this ability to score important goals,” said Arteta, once again showing a golden touch.
Even if the opening goal was fortunate: Marquinhos shot at Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard and the ball bounced into Havertz’s path. The ex-Leverkusen player hammered it under the crossbar from a tight angle.
The early shock was noticeable to the Parisians. The supposedly best offensive in the world couldn’t find a key for the English defense, which was incredibly deep. PSG had virtually no really dangerous finishes in the first half – despite having more than 70 percent possession. Star striker Dembélé was initially not a factor at all.
The favorites increased the pressure after the break and seemed to be getting closer and closer to equalizing. The French often advanced effortlessly into the Arsenal penalty area, then either lacked accuracy or a red-and-white player threw himself into the shot. A penalty finally brought PSG back into the game. Some PSG supporters jumped into the interior for joy – the police immediately arrived.
