Just a year ago, PSG sent Arsenal out of the Champions League in the semi-finals and then they went on to become the European Champions. This season, the two sides are meeting again and this time it is in the final of the competition.
On May 30 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, both teams will be meeting and at AfroPari we are taking a close look at the final of this competition.
What is at stake
Paris Saint-Germain are the reigning champions and they are looking to get a 2nd consecutive trophy which will make them the first team after Real Madrid in 2016 to 2018 to win the title and defend it.
The Gunners have never won the UCL despite getting to the final in 2006 which they lost 2-1 to Barcelona. This is the first final in 20 years and they will be looking to win it. PSG have won the Ligue 1 title and it is their fifth time in a row while Arsenal have won the EPL for the first time in 22 years so both teams are looking to do the double this season.
Road to the final and key players
Paris Saint-Germain
To get to the final, the French team beat Chelsea 8-2 in the Round of 16 and went on to beat Liverpool in the Quarter Final. Their semi-final match against Bayern Munich is considered one of the best matches of the tournament as PSG won 6-5 on aggregate.
It is without doubt that Paris Saint-Germain has the best attack in the Champions League. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has shown that he is a key player for the Red-and-Blues as he has scored 10 goals and provided 6 assists in the competition so far.
The Georgian winger is very unpredictable in one-on-one situations and he can change the course of the match at any moment. So PSG fans have high hopes on him.
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé has shown he is always going to be a constant threat and he can score goals. It was his three goals against Bayern Munich that got his team the ticket to the Champions League final 2026.
Paris Saint-Germain have star players in every position on the field and Luis Enrique’s side will be looking to capitalize on this quality to get a 2nd trophy.
Arsenal
The Londoners have been very good defensively and have gone through the tournament with no defeats – 14 wins in a row. Their semi-final match against Atlético Madrid saw fewer goals and it was a hard fought match won by a precise strike from Bukayo Saka.
Saka is leading the Gunners’ attacks thanks to his movement and passing which creates space for his teammates. The top scorers in the tournament for Arsenal are Gabriel Martinelli (6 goals) and Viktor Gyökeres (5 goals).
Rice is their midfield governor, winning the ball and progressing it forward while also unleashing thunderous shots when possible. He would still be in the nightmares of Real Madrid fans for the free kicks.
Mikel Arteta will do all he can to prevent the Parisians from having space and then hit them on the counter. He already has a good defense having conceded just six times in the current campaign and then his center-backs are equally dangerous on set pieces: William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.
Who will win Champions League 2026?
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It is your last chance as the final is around the corner.
Are the Gunners going to take revenge for last year’s defeat or will the Parisians defend their title?
