This Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain won their second consecutive Champions League by beating Arsenal on penalties (1-1 ap), at the end of a monotonous but closely contested final. The Gunners took the lead in the 6th minute, surprising PSG with an early goal from Kai Havertz. But the capital club, in control of the ball with 72% possession, equalized on the hour mark (65th) to put the two teams back on level terms and push the match into extra time. Unable to decide between themselves despite a bitter end to the match, the two teams had to go to penalties, where Paris was able to make the difference.
Dominant from start to finish but long put in difficulty by a courageous and regrouped Arsenal (only 7 shots in total for the Londoners), PSG showed all its champion mentality. After their first C1 in 2025, Luis Enrique’s men confirm their domination of European football by achieving the back-to-back in the Champions League after Gabriel Magalhaes’ failed attempt. A historic page for the capital club, which exploded with joy after the match.
Désiré Doué and Luis Enrique are in heaven
At the microphone of Canal+the Iberian coach expressed his great joy after this wonderful coronation: “even stronger than last year? Yes, we knew before the match how difficult it was to play against Arsenal. For us, as a team and a city, it’s incredible to win in style throughout the season. The final was very competitive but it’s time to celebrate with our supporters.» For his part, Joao Neves, author of a quality final, expressed his immense joy after winning his second Champions League at only 21 years old: “I am very happy, for the group, for everything we have done this season. It was more difficult, we were champion before this evening and we have to defend our title, which is the most difficult. This group is ready for anything, they run, they play ball very well. There’s a lot of fatigue but you have to forget everything in a final to give it your all, that’s what we did and I’m very happy.”
Symbol of this team and author of the equalizer, Ousmane Dembélé was also over the moon after the match: “we worked hard this season to achieve the back-to-back and it’s magnificent, we’re very happy this evening, we’re going to enjoy it. Of course it was difficult throughout the season. We had to manage a lot of things but we are still winners of this Champions League.” Finally, captain of this team and exemplary this Saturday, Marquinhos was very happy after the meeting and jubilant at the microphone of Canal+ : “They are different emotions, back to back. We showed that we really wanted it, since the first day of this season. The coach said it’s even harder to win twice. Today, we had the complete team and the mentality. We see Gonçalo, Beraldo, who have returned. The atmosphere here has been incredible. Thank you everyone who is in Paris! Enjoy guys and don’t make a mess!»
PSG is thinking of a third Champions League in a row!
But now, as the appetite comes with eating, this second coronation gives ideas to certain players. As they say, never two without three. And regaining the Champions League next year is an idea that is circulating as Désiré Doué explained at the microphone of M6 : “I don’t have the words, I don’t know what to do, the first one was exceptional but we had this desire more than anything to go for the second one, to write history again, to become a legend. I really like this club, the 2nd star is there and we will go for the 3rd.»
Entering the game and volunteering, Gonçalo Ramos converted the Parisians’ first shot on goal. Contributing once again to this coronation in the Champions League, the former Benfica expressed his great joy and explained that he liked to respond in his moments of tension: “it’s very special, the back to back, it’s an incredible day, an immense emotion for us. I’m always ready, I like this type of moment, you play football for that. I am an attacker and I want to be there in the decisive, difficult moments. I don’t think about the third star, I think it’s Lucas or Achraf who are talking about that because they have three.» At the microphone of M6, Achraf Hakimi added: “I don’t have the words to tell the truth, we are very happy, it wasn’t easy, we managed to do it, Al Hamdoulilah, this group deserves it. Many thought we were not capable of doing great things again, the work paid off.” You will have understood, the whole of Paris Saint-Germain is in ecstasy this Saturday evening!
