PSG’s rollercoaster run to back-to-back European titles, sealed on penalties against Arsenal | OneFootball

PSG completed a resounding double by edging Arsenal on penalties in Budapest, the final finishing 1-1 before a 4-3 shootout sealed back-to-back European crowns.

L'Équipe highlights a journey that lurched from early doubts to imposing form.

After opening with a 4-0 win over Atalanta, Paris snatched a 2-1 victory at Barcelona on 1 October, Gonçalo Ramos striking at the death.

Momentum stalled on 4 November as Bayern won 1-2 at the Parc. Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi went off injured, the latter after a heavy Luis Diaz tackle, despite a prior 7-2 at Leverkusen completing three wins from three.

A 5-3 lift against Tottenham was followed by league-phase stumbles, a 1-2 loss to Sporting and draws at Bilbao, 0-0, and against Newcastle, 1-1. Out of the top 8, PSG faced Monaco, trailing 2-0 at Louis II then 1-0 in Paris, yet advancing 3-2 and 2-2.

Chelsea were swept aside 5-2 on 11 March, the hosts hitting three in 20 minutes as substitute Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia scored twice. Six days later in London, Paris controlled the return, 3-0.

Against Liverpool, a 2-0 first leg brought frustration it was not clearer. At Anfield on 14 April, Dembélé scored twice in a 2-0 win to reach the last four.

Bayern returned on 28 April and a 5-4 Paris win brought chaos then control, Dembélé’s brace making it 5-2 before the visitors rallied. In Munich, PSG held firm to reach Budapest.

In the final, Havertz struck after six minutes and Dembélé levelled from the spot on 65. The shootout decided it, Nuno Mendes missed for PSG, Gabriel for Arsenal, then Eze lifted over Matveï Safonov’s bar. The Russian keeper, his team-mates and Luis Enrique could finally celebrate a second star.

Source: L'Équipe