Paris Saint-Germain have won the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive season after defeating Arsenal 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. The historic victory makes the French side only the second club in modern Champions League history to retain the continental crown back-to-back.
The Athletic and ESPN reported that the match finished 1-1 after extra time following a highly competitive 120 minutes in Hungary. Arsenal took an early lead in the fifth minute when German forward Kai Havertz converted past Matvey Safonov. Luis Enrique’s side equalized in the 64th minute through a confidently struck penalty from Ousmane Dembélé after a foul inside the Arsenal penalty area.
The showpiece final drifted through a scoreless extra-time period before heading to a penalty shootout to decide the destination of the European Cup. During the shootout, Arsenal substitutes Eberechi Eze and defender Gabriel Magalhães missed from the spot, with Gabriel striking the decisive final penalty over the crossbar to ignite jubilant celebrations among the travelling Parisian supporters.
The result secures Luis Enrique his second consecutive European trophy with PSG, following their 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in Munich last year. For Arsenal, who entered the match fresh from securing their first Premier League title in 22 years, the heartbreaking defeat extends the club’s historic wait to claim its first-ever Champions League trophy.
