Nervous thriller in Budapest: Despite Kai Havertz’s next final goal, Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended its place on Europe’s football throne and ensured another great moment in its era of success.
The Paris premier class winners danced with the handle pot through the confetti rain in Budapest when Kai Havertz dragged himself into the catacombs, stunned and disappointed. The German international also quickly tore the medal away.
In the end, his next heroic story in a Champions League final came to nothing, even though the attacker was there again in a big moment. But in the penalty thriller, Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended its place on Europe’s football throne, Arsenal FC has to wait for the first pot in the club’s history.
This triumph, coach Luis Enrique cheered after skipping across the Budapest lawn bathed in sweat and completely detached, was “even greater because we knew how difficult it is to play against Arsenal and for us as a team and as a city to win the cup is incredible.”
Defending the title in a penalty shootout
PSG defeated the Gunners 4-3 on penalties in the Champions League final; after extra time the score was 1-1 (1-1, 0-1). The French champions were crowned for the second time. The Parisians remain the measure of all things in European club football under tactics freak Enrique.
The billion dollar project financed by Qatar, from which a real unity was formed thanks to Enrique, pushed itself into an exclusive circle in Budapest: PSG became the second team after Real Madrid to repeat a title win in the Champions League the following season.
“A new star shines over Paris,” wrote French President Emmanuel Macron on X: “Congratulations to PSG, which makes all of Europe dream. France is proud.”
Havertz initially put his stamp on the showdown in the Hungarian capital. The DFB striker took advantage of the first chance of the game with a powerful shot from a tight angle (6th) and became the first German to score in two Champions League finals.
However, because world footballer Ousmane Dembélé equalized for Paris with a penalty kick (65th), it ultimately went to a penalty shootout. Gabriel shot decisively over the goal for Arsenal, and Havertz later gave the unlucky man a comforting hug. The rest was endless celebration at PSG. Paris had already swept away Inter Milan (5-0) in 2025, and a huge blue and red party is now planned for Sunday not far from the Eiffel Tower. Havertz, however, missed his second pot after the success in 2021 with Chelsea FC (1-0 over Manchester City).
Nevertheless, there should also be celebrations in London – but “only” the championship. The Gunners were left with the realization that they were once again among the top European teams, but their first premier class triumph will have to wait. Arsenal had already lost to Barcelona in the final in Paris in 2006 (1:2).
Among the 61,035 fans in the sold-out Puskas Arena were high-profile sports celebrities such as Thierry Henry and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. From a distance, the World Cup drivers from the German national team kept their fingers crossed for their teammate Havertz. “I hope that he comes here with a sense of achievement and brings the title with him. And then starts the tournament with positive energy,” said captain Joshua Kimmich. The DFB selection watched the game together in the Frankfurt team hotel.
Almost 1000 kilometers southeast, Havertz, who had missed 35 games this season due to injury, received Arteta’s trust and started in the starting line-up – it was to pay off. Although Arsenal made it to the final without defeat and conceding just six goals, the English went into the duel as challengers. “We are here to take the title from them,” said Arteta.
First “Mr. Brightside”, then Havertz-Hammer
A few minutes later it got even louder than “Mr. Brightside” by the US rock band The Killers at the opening show. An unsuccessful release by PSG defender Marquinhos landed in the path of Havertz. The 26-year-old hit the ball unstoppably into the goal.
The lead came in extremely handy for the best defense in the competition. Arsenal often defended in a deep block with Havertz just a few meters from their own penalty area. The ball artists in Paris didn’t know what to do with their almost 80 percent possession of the ball.
The German referee Daniel Siebert allowed international harshness in the duel assessment, but took action early on in the Gunners’ time game: defender Cristhian Mosquera saw yellow (47th).
He then brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the penalty area. Siebert pointed decisively to the point, Dembélé coolly converted down the left. Then PSG turned it up, Kvaratskhelia failed to hit the post (77′).
But it went into extra time, in which Havertz remained exhausted on the bench. Arsenal then vehemently demanded a penalty from Siebert, but in vain when Noni Madueke fell (102′). There was no goal until the penalty shootout.
