Paris Saint-Germain sneaked past Arsenal in a dramatic Champions League final at the Puskas Arena to win a second consecutive European title.
Kai Havertz, who unexpectedly got the nod ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, fired the newly crowned Premier League champions off to a dream start, breaking the deadlock after just six minutes.
The German forward picked up a loose ball nearly the halfway line and proved too quick for Marquinhos, who couldn’t catch him. More importantly, he kept his cool to beat Matvey Safonov from an acute angle with a thumping finish.
Arsenal immediately dropped back to protect their slender lead in a classic Mikel Arteta fashion, allowing PSG to take complete control of the game, with Les Parisiens boasting a remarkable 77% possession in the first half.
However, Luis Enrique’s side failed to find a way to unlock the Gunners’ deep block. They generated a disappointing 0.34 xG in the opening 45 minutes while making just a single attempt on target.
PSG could create anything from open play, yet Cristhian Mosquera helped them fight back, taking down Khivcha Kvaratskhelia in the box. Ousmane Dembele made no mistake from the spot to pull Les Parisiens level.
Dembele’s strike was enough to take the game to extra time, where Arsenal thought they should’ve been given a penalty for Nuno Mendes’ reckless tackle on Noni Madueke, only for Daniel Siebert to wave play on.
With nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes, penalties were required to crown a champion, with PSG keeping their cool in the shootout to become the second team after Real Madrid to defend their Champions League title.
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)
Matvey Safonov (6/10) – It was anything but a busy night for the Russian goalkeeper, but whether he could’ve done better to stop Havertz from scoring remains debatable.
Nuno Mendes (6/10) – With Arsenal playing behind the ball for most of the game, didn’t have to worry about Bukayo Saka. However, didn’t do anything noteworthy in the final third.
Willian Pacho (8/10) – Had a relatively comfortable evening as Arsenal failed to muster any attacking threat after taking the lead.
Marquinhos (7/10) – Atone for a sloppy clearance, which led to Havertz’s goal, with a superb last-ditch defending to thwart the German’s close-range effort.
Achraf Hakimi (6/10) – Largely unchallenged defensively, the Moroccan had plenty of freedom to venture forward, though his final touch frequently let him down.
Fabian Ruiz (6/10) – Heavily involved in the build-up play, the Spanish midfielder unleashed one ambitious half-volley at the tail-end of the first half.
Vitinha (7/10) – The beating heart of Enrique’s engine room was pulling all the strings in the middle of the park. Had one superb shot from the edge of the box, but it finished on the roof of the net.
Joao Neves (7/10) – His work rate was nothing short of phenomenal, providing endless energy both in and out of possession.
Khivcha Kvaratskhelia (8/10) – Despite enjoying plenty of possession, the Georgian superstar struggled to impact proceedings from the left wing. Still, he drew a game-changing penalty.
Desire Doue (6/10) – Displayed some fancy footwork on a few occasions, albeit without the end product. Apart from a wayward long-range effort midway through the first half, he never came close to troubling Raya.
Ousmane Dembele (7/10) – PSG desperately needed their standout performer to provide a spark after falling behind, yet nothing went the Frenchman’s way in the first half. Nevertheless, converted a crucial penalty.
Substitutes
Bradley Barcola7/10
Goncalo Ramos4/10
Warren Zaire-Emery6/10
Illia ZabarnyiN/A
Lucas BeraldoN/A
Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
David Raya (7/10) – His first save of the game was a bit clumsy, but he grew into the contest as the final progressed.
Cristhian Mosquera (3/10) – Fared outstandingly against Kvaratskhelia up until he gave away that mindless penalty. Received a silly yellow card for time wasting at the start of the second half.
William Saliba (8/10) – A standout performance from the French centre-back, who dealt with Dembele expertly, completely neutralising the reigning Ballon d’Or holder.
Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10) – Once again dominated his opponents in the air, cutting off PSG’s aerial threat with another commanding display at the heart of Arteta’s steely backline.
Piero Hincapie (7/10) – Made up for a lack of speed with excellent positioning to fend off Doue. Nowhere to be seen in the attacking third.
Declan Rice (8/10) – His composure on the ball and ability to retain possession in tight spaces often gave Arsenal a much-needed breathing room.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10) – Invisible in the offensive part of the game. Fully committed to helping his defence endure a game-long siege.
Bukayo Saka (2/10) – A near-anonymous performance from the Arsenal talisman, who had absolutely no impact on the game whatsoever.
Martin Odegaard (4/10) – Speaking of zero impact, the Norwegian playmaker was a largely marginal figure, in part due to Arsenal’s approach.
Leandro Trossard (5/10) – Like his counterpart on the opposite wing, the Belgian forward spent much of the game on the fringes.
Kai Havertz (8/10) – Arsenal’s best attacking player by a mile. In addition to the goal, he often created havoc in the penalty area.
Substitutes
Gabriel Martinelli5/10
Noni Madueke7/10