The final of the Champions League was broken by penalties: PSG takes the trophy again!

The players of Paris Saint-Germain defended the trophy in the Champions League. In Saturday’s final in Budapest, they defeated the English Arsenal 4:3 in a shootout. After the end of regular playing time and after extra time, the score was tied 1:1. Saturday’s final was described as a confrontation of the best defense (Arsenal) against the best attack (PSG).

In the first act of the final battle, the defense of the Londoners stood out, as they conceded only six times on the way to their first final since 2006. The “Gunners” excellently doubled the PSG players and practically did not allow the offensive stars of the Parisians to do anything. In addition, coach Mikel Arteta’s wards scored a quick goal when Kai Havertz sent them into the lead in the sixth minute with an uncompromising shot. The German attacker got space in the ninth position in front of the Swedish finisher Viktor Gyökeres.

The French champions erased the deficit shortly after the hour when Christian Mosquera fouled Chviča Kvaracchelija in the big box and Ousmane Dembele converted the penalty kick to equalise. Both sides showed growing fatigue, several players suffered from muscle cramps, and physical readiness was tested by extra time, which reached the LM final for the first time since 2016. Similar to ten years ago at Milan’s San Siro, the penalty shootout had to be decided now. In the fifth series, substitute defender Lucas Beraldo took care of the winning accurate shot. After him, the Brazilian stopper Gabriel crossed the goal.

The Parisians defended their title in the LM as the second club in the 21st century. Before them, only the players of Real Madrid were able to do it, who won the “eared” trophy three times in a row in 2016 and 2018. Arsenal failed in their second participation in the final. Twenty years ago FC Barcelona lost (1:2).

In the first five minutes, the Parisians were constantly on the ball. However, Arsenal did not withdraw into a deep block, but already covered spaces well in their attacking half. Patience brought the Londoners a goal in the sixth minute. Marquinhos hit Trossard when he tried to kick the ball away, and Havertz ran down the left wing. The German striker did not let himself be caught and beat the goalkeeper Safonov with an elusive shot to the upper part of the goal from an angle. Coach Enrique’s team often had to deal with doubles by the defending “gunners”. This made the situation difficult for the creativity of Doue or Kvaracchelija, who were completely shut down. Another offensive attack was made by the English representative in the 26th minute, when Saka dangerously crossed from the right side.

Safonov wanted to kick the ball in front of the advancing Havertz, who was unpleasantly hit in the head with a knee by his own teammate Marquinhos. The Russian goalkeeper was left concussed on the pitch, but continued with the match after a short treatment, while his replacement Chevalier was already warming up. PSG had a significant territorial advantage, but its opponent confirmed the position of the best defending team in the competition. Despite almost 80 percent possession of the ball and a more than three-fold advantage in the number of completed passes, the French champion was unable to directly threaten goalkeeper Raya. On the contrary, he could still collect a second time from the boot of Havertz. The latter got into an excellent firing position inside the penalty area after a header, but his attempt was blocked at the last moment by stopper Marquinhos. The first finish on Arsenal’s goal came in the fifth minute of added time, when Fabian Ruiz shot from a corner.

At the beginning of the second half, the performance of the game did not change. Arsenal’s defender Mosquera, who was at the first decisive moment after the change of sides, received a swift yellow card. The Spaniard, who until then had defended excellently, behaved clumsily in the 61st minute and fouled Kvaracchelija in the penalty area. The German referee Siebert immediately pointed to the white spot and confirmed his decision after consulting the VAR. The ball was taken by Dembele, who safely converted and equalized at 1:1. Fortunately for Arsenal, Mosquera did not receive a second yellow card, but after the goal he left the field for that very reason and was replaced by Timber. Captain Ödegaard also played, who was replaced by Gyökeres.

Kvaracchelija was close to the leading goal in the 77th minute, who sprinted about 60 meters with the ball, but ended the break with a shot into the post, and Barcola replaced him on the field a few minutes later. The fresh winger almost had a great chance, but Safonov slid to the free ball at the last moment. Barcola had a decision on his boot in the seventh minute of stoppage time when he sprinted alone, similar to Havertz in Arsenal’s goal. However, he finished with his weaker left foot, his shot missed the goal area and overtime followed.

The first fifteen minutes did not bring too much excitement and ended without a shot attempt. The second part of the overtime took place in a similar spirit, and no field goal was scored. The shootout had to decide, and Eze from Arsenal was the first to hesitate in the second series. However, even Mendes did not convert after him and Rice tied the game at 2:2. In the fifth series, Beraldo put Gabriel under pressure, who could not handle the burden and sent the ball over the goal.