Pastore ovation as PSG and Arsenal fans flood Budapest before the final | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, thousands of PSG and Arsenal supporters have poured into Budapest ahead of tonight’s final, with city-centre terraces and the PSG fan-zone by Puskas Arena already packed as the atmosphere builds.

By 10am the singing had started. The Collectif Ultras Paris headed into town as the fan-zone buzzed with games, official shops, food stands and activations. Fans staged virtual finals on EA FC, one ending 4-0 to PSG with a Dembélé brace, while a shooting challenge at a Matvei Safonov target drew a sceptical quip about buying beers if the keeper won it.

A roar greeted Javier Pastore on stage as he hailed an exceptional squad and a coach he feels has the qualities to deliver a second Champions League, adding that PSG needed to play as usual. Autograph scrums followed. The club also reunited more than a dozen former players, including Siaka Tiéné, Guillaume Hoarau, Danijel Ljuboja, Amara Diané, Bruno Ngotty, Didier Domi, Clément Chantôme, Jimmy Algérino, Amara Simba and Pierre Ducrocq.

Academy favourites such as Chantôme and crowd-pleaser Sammy Traoré drew big cheers, while Diané was saluted for his 2008 goal at Sochaux. Christophe Jallet said he thought the tie would be tighter than last year against Inter Milan, and that an early PSG goal could force Arsenal to open up.

Autographs continued before Pedro Miguel Pauleta took the stage at 2pm. Families and associates, many in since Friday, split time between the fan-zone and low-key strolls, while Steven Gerrard, Cafu and cyclist Thibaut Pinot mingled in town. Gunners shirts were most visible, with many ticketless English fans trying to buy one.

Despite an overnight fight, there was no palpable tension by mid-afternoon amid heavy local security and overstretched restaurants. Near PSG’s hotel, supporters gathered as the team bus was set to leave around 16:10, before focus shifts to the Puskas Arena pitch. Police opened an investigation into the 00:20 clash on 30 May on Király Street, with a complaint filed in the 7th district and CCTV under review, and a 4,000-strong operation in place.

Source: L'Équipe