05/30/26 02:21:00
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05/30 14:20 CDT PSG wins back-to-back Champions League titles after shootout
victory against Arsenal
PSG wins back-to-back Champions League titles after shootout victory against
Arsenal
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) --- Paris Saint-Germain won back-to-back Champions
League trophies by beating Arsenal on penalties in a dramatic final in Puskas
Arena on Saturday.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes fired the last of his team's penalties over
the bar to hand PSG a 4-3 shootout victory.
"It's incredible, back to back," PSG captain Marquinhos said. "From the very
first day of this season the coach said it's hard to win, and winning twice is
even more difficult. So we all had to get back to work. That was the mentality."
The game was 1-1 at the end of regulation time and extra time, sending the game
to spot kicks.
Arsenal led after six minutes when Kai Havertz broke away and blasted past PSG
goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. But the defending champion dominated possession and
Ousmane Dembl leveled from the penalty spot in the 65th to take the final to
extra time for the first time in 10 years.
Eberechi Eze also missed an earlier spot kick, but David Raya saved from Nuno
Mendes to keep Arsenal level.
Lucas Beraldo scored the last of PSG's spot kicks, meaning Gabriel had to
convert to take it to sudden death. But he blasted high over the bar to spark
celebrations from PSG players and fans inside Puskas Arena.
"It's even more special because we knew before the match how difficult it would
be," PSG coach Luis Enrique said. "I think it's deserved over the course of the
whole season, even if the final was very closely contested."
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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