PSG 1-1 (5-4 Pens) Arsenal: UEFA Champions League Final Match Report & Player Ratings
PSG 1-1 (5-4 Pens) Arsenal: Match Report & Player Ratings
The Premier League Champions suffered penalty shootout heartbreak in Budapest despite a battling 120 minute performance as PSG won the Champions League for a second consecutive season.
Luis Enrique’s side however were stunned in the opening minutes as Kai Havertz found himself through, and from a tight angle found the back of the net. Hitting his shot towards the roof brilliantly to give Arsenal priceless early lead.
HAVERTZ SCORES THE OPENER! 🤩@Arsenal lead in the UEFA Champions League final!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 30, 2026
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The early goal was exactly what Mikel Arteta would have wanted, as Arsenal sat in slightly and allowed PSG to control the majority of the play. But despite that, the French champions struggled to find an answer to their English counterparts resilience.
In fact, Arsenal would have the best chance of the half following the early stages. As a fine team move saw Bukayo Saka deliver a great low cross which was well dealt with by PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
The Gunners made it to half-time with the advantage, but PSG came out with intent in the second half, with winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hitting the outside of the post in the opening stages.
However. With just beyond an hour on the clock, the Georgian winger would again get the better of Christian Mosquera. The young defender saw Kvarachskia play a one-two and upon receiving the ball in behind, was taken down by the Spaniard in the box for a PSG penalty.
David Raya had saved from the spot kick from Vitinha in last season’s semi-final, but this time couldn’t keep out the effort from Ballon D’or winger Ousmane Dembele who fired into the bottom corner to level the final.
From there, PSG continued to push as Arsenal continuously were forced into a defensive shape. But the Gunners did their defensive jobs superbly aside from a small handful of moments of panic where their opponents came close.
Substitute Bradley Barcola suddenly found himself through on goal, but his first touch was slightly heavy and allowed for Raya to brilliantly come out and smother the ball.
Midfielder Vitinha would go close in the final stages of the ninety. Curling a lot which hit the outside roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Extra time was forced, for the first time in over ten years in a Champions League final, and aside from a fairly uneventful period, Arsenal could have had themselves a penalty as substitute winger Noni Madueke was brought down in the box by Nuno Mendes. But despite adamant protests from the Arsenal players, substitutes and staff, the referee waved away the claims with VAR not sending him to the monitor for a review.
After 120 mins of pure tension, a penalty shootout was set to decide whether PSG would successfully retain the Champions League trophy, or Arsenal would win the competition for the first time ever.
Both sides scored their first spot kick, before Eberechi Eze hit his effort wide of the post.
However, Raya came to the rescue straight after, keeping out Mendes’ penalty before Gabriel Martinelli found the top corner.
It came down to sudden death on the fifth round of penalties, with PSG finding the net. Leaving defender Gabriel with the task of needing to score to keep Arsenal in the shootout.
Gabriel misses his penalty ❌
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PSG WIN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!! 🏆
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The Gunners Brazilian man stepped up, but fired over the bar. Giving PSG the trophy for the second time in a row.
It was a cruel way to lose for Arsenal, but PSG can now boast themselves as back-to-back champions of Europe.
Player Ratings:
Arsenal Ratings:
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Raya: 8
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Mosquera: 5
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Saliba: 7
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Gabriel: 6
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Hincapie: 7
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Lewis-Skelly: 6
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Rice: 6
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Saka: 5
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Odegaard: 5
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Trossard: 6
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Havertz: 7
PSG Ratings:
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Safonov: 6
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Hakimi: 6
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Marquinhos: 6
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Pacho: 7
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Mendes: 6
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Ruiz: 6
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Vitinha: 7
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Neves: 7
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Doue: 7
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Dembele: 7
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Kvaratskhelia: 7
Player of the Match: David Raya
He may have ended up with a losers’ medal, but Arsenal’s goalkeeper was outstanding in Budapest. Making a number of strong interventions and claims throughout and coming up with a save in the shootout despite his team falling short
Harry Pascoe 
Jake Brown 
