PSG beat Arsenal to win back-to-back Champions League titles after a shootout | Football News

Paris Saint-Germain impressed in the Champions League final to retain the title to beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties as Saturday’s nail-biter ended 1-1 after extra time, cementing the French side among the modern European greats.

Arsenal defender Gabriel fired home Matvey Safonov’s cross at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, his miss ensuring PSG became the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid ended their three-year reign from 2016 to 2018.

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Long known as underachievers despite their wealth, the Ligue 1 champions have now forged a dynasty under Luis Enrique, marrying a bold attacking philosophy to establish themselves as the dominant force in European football.

“It’s stronger than last year because we knew the game before it was difficult to play against Arsenal,” said Enrique, whose team beat Inter Milan 5-0 last year to lift Europe’s top competition for the first time.

“As a club and as a city, it’s great to win, and I think we deserved to win throughout the season. The final was a real battle,” added the Spanish coach.

The result left Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice disappointed but proud as his side ended their European campaign without losing a game, apart from the final defeat.

“It hurts a lot. It’s sad to lose in the Champions League final on penalties,” he said. “But we try to have a lot of ideas based on how we have progressed as a team.

“Amazing season. Because of everything so far. We took the game to penalties. It’s a lottery.”

Eleven days after celebrating their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal look to have a first win at Europe’s biggest stage after Kai Havertz’s sixth-minute opener and first-hour goal thwarted PSG’s attack.

However, the final in the Hungarian capital turned into chaos, with PSG’s Ousmane Dembele equalizing the decision in the 65th minute, the pace reached the point of exhaustion before the shootout.

Under Enrique, PSG have won six of their competitive games, and the 56-year-old has won 12 of the clubs’ last 13 times as a manager.

After eliminating Premier League rivals en route to the final by knocking out Chelsea and Liverpool, PSG faced a tough test against an Arsenal side who had played in the Champions League final after losing to Barcelona in 2006.

Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead when Marquinhos’ pass hit Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard into the path of Havertz, who raced into the box and fired into the roof of the net.

He is the fourth player to participate in two different European Cup or Champions League games with two different clubs.

It was a tough one for PSG – chasing the best defense in the competition.

Arsenal played what is known as an excellent team off the ball and looked very well on script, doubling up on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and weakening the threat posed by the Georgian magician on the left.

PSG’s Fabian Ruiz was unable to put in his usual performance in midfield and, despite having plenty of time, the French side struggled to create chances.

By halftime, PSG attacked 32 times, Arsenal three times.

Arsenal, however, play to their limits and Cristhian Mosquera brought down Kvaratskhelia in the area, while Dembele converted the penalty to tie for his eighth goal of the competition.

The force had moved.

Jurrien ⁠Timber and Viktor Gyokeres replaced Mosquera and Martin Odegaard. Arsenal had an attacking attitude but met PSG’s threats and at the end of one of them, Kvaratskhelia entered the box, due to his left-footed strike outside the post of David Raya.

After controlling the tempo in the first half, Arsenal played into the hands of PSG as the pace increased significantly, giving more space to Kvaratskhelia or Bradley Barcola, who replaced the Georgian winner with seven minutes remaining.

In the 89th minute, PSG came close to a surprise final when Vitinha’s shot hit the top of the net. Barcola also shot over the bar after the attack, with what would have been the last strike of the game.

With both teams exhausted, extra-time was on the cards and when referee Daniel Siebert blew the whistle, Arsenal had only had one shot on target.

Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze missed his penalty before Raya saved from Nuno Mendes. Gabriel should have scored to keep the Gunners’ hopes alive, but when faced with a PSG finish, he fired.

The French team was left to celebrate once again becoming European champions, with the goal of replacing Lucas Beraldo in extra time in the shootout proving to be the winner.