Champions League 2025-2026: PSG’s complete journey to glory

UEFA UCL: How PSG defended their European crown

Europe 30 May 2026 at 15:31

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Champions League 2025-2026: PSG’s complete journey to glory

30.05.26 AP Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain

1 (4)

Arsenal

(3) 1

One year after their first continental triumph, Paris Saint-Germain have conquered Europe once again. Let’s look back at Luis Enrique’s men’s exceptional campaign all the way to their triumph in Budapest.

Paris Saint-Germain have further cemented their place in European football history. After defeating Arsenal in a dramatic penalty shootout (4-3) in the Budapest final, the capital club retained their continental crown and achieved a rare feat: winning back-to-back Champions League titles.

🏆 BACK 2 BACK 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Dp2z8o9CPC
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 30, 2026

Yet, things were far from easy for Luis Enrique’s side. In the new league phase, PSG alternated between dazzling attacking displays and more mixed results. The Parisians made a statement with a stunning 7-2 away win over Bayer Leverkusen and a prestigious victory against FC Barcelona. Despite some slips against Bayern Munich and Sporting Portugal, Paris punched their ticket to the knockout stage.

An unstoppable rise in form

Once the knockout rounds began, PSG took things to another level. Monaco were the first to fall, edged out in a fiercely contested all-French playoff (5-4 on aggregate). Chelsea were next, suffering a crushing 8-2 defeat over two legs in the round of 16.

Liverpool proved no match for the Parisian machine, failing to score as they were eliminated 4-0 on aggregate. Bayern Munich then fell in a spectacular semi-final that ended 6-5 over two legs.

Budapest, the stage for glory

The final against Arsenal presented one last major challenge. Trailing as early as the 6th minute after a goal from Kai Havertz, the Parisians struggled for a long time to break through the solid London defense. It was Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, who leveled the score with a penalty in the 65th minute after a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Neither regular time nor extra time could separate the two teams. In the penalty shootout, Gonçalo Ramos, Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi, and Lucas Beraldo all converted for PSG. Despite a miss from Nuno Mendes, failed attempts from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel handed the Parisian club a 4-3 victory and a historic second European star.

With 40 goals scored during the competition, victories against several of the continent’s giants, and another trophy lifted, Luis Enrique’s PSG now stand as the benchmark in European football.