Paris Saint-Germain are European champions again after a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory over Arsenal
PSG defended their Champions League crown by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw during regulation time.
After winning their first Premier League title in 22 years last week, Arsenal got off to a perfect start as Kai Havertz slammed home with a clinical finish to make it 1-0 with less than six minutes on the clock.
But Luis Enrique’s side kept grinding away and the brilliant Khvicha Kvaratskhelia won a penalty kick which Ousmane Dembele converted with 25 minutes of normal time to go.
In extra time it was tight and tense and Arsenal wanted a penalty kick when Noni Madueke went down, but nothing was given.
So the Champions League winners was decided by penalty kicks for the first time since 2016
The game headed to penalties and PSG prevailed after both Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes missed from the spot, the latter blasting his effort high over the bar to hand the French champions their second successive European title.
Well, that feels incredibly tough on Arsenal. So much is said about what a brilliant team PSG are – and rightly so. But Arsenal limited them to few chances tonight.
Yes, there were long periods of PSG possession, in particular prior to their equaliser, but I rarely felt that PSG were going to score.
As Oli Kay has said, for that to happen to Gabriel with the fifth penalty … it’s a bloody cruel game at times.
PSG have become the first team to defend their crown since Real Madrid won three in a row from 2015-18, as Enrique’s side have gone back-to-back but were pushed all the way by Arsenal.
There were wild scenes of celebration at the PSG end of the stadium and their players and Luis Enrique are loving it.
PSG collect their medals and lift the trophy, as Marquinhos hoists it into the Hungarian air.
PSG have been excellent for a long time now and they have one of the youngest teams in Europe too.
