The current champions of two great footballing nations, Paris Saint-Germain of France and Arsenal of England, are facing off against each other for Europe’s most coveted club trophy in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary tonight, 30 May.
PSG are coming into the game as reigning UCL champions, after they delivered the largest margin of victory in last year’s final, a 5–0 win over the Italian side Inter Milan. They will have the chance to claim their second UCL title, along with becoming the first team to defend their title in the competition since Real Madrid in 2018.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are chasing their first UCL trophy. This is the Gunners’ second time reaching the final: in 2006, they lost to FC Barcelona 2–1.
Both teams are coached by Spaniards. Heach coach Luis Enrique is in charge of PSG, while manager Mikel Arteta is at the helm at Arsenal. In fact, the two coaches’ playing careers briefly overlapped at FC Barcelona.
Starting Line-Ups for PSG v Arsenal
PSG: Safanov 39 — Hakimi 2, Marquinhos 5 (CPT), Pacho 51, Mendes 25 — Fabián Ruiz 8, Vitinha 17, Neves 87 —Doué 14, Dembélé 10, Kvaratskhelia 7.
Arsenal: Raya 1 — Mosquera 3, Saliba 2, Gabriel 6, Hincapié 5 — Ødegaard 8 (CPT), Rice 41, Lewis-Skelly 49 — Saka 7, Havertz 29, Trossard 19.
Top scorer for the season for Arsenal, Swedish international (of Hungarian ancestry) striker Viktor Gyökeres is noticeably absent from the Gunners’ starting 11. He is dropped in favour of Kai Havertz, who is better at the combinative build-up play.
Meanwhile, the biggest name not to make PSG’s line-up is the young French international midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery.
PSG v Arsenal LIVE Coverage
The PSG v Arsenal UEFA Champions League final in Budapest has now kicked off, the game is underway.
1st minute: Free kick for Arsenal near the half-way line, Hakimi committed the first foul of the game. Ball goes out for a goal kick, no real threat.
6th minute: GOAL FOR ARSENAL! 1–0, KAI HAVERTZ
Havertz received a ball from Trossard near the halfway line and managed to break away on the left flank. He ran down to the 6-yard box, then fired the ball into Safanov’s net from a tight angle.
11th minute: Great clearance from Gabriel ahead of Kvaratskhelia at the Arsenal end.
13th minute: Shot towards goal by PSG’s Fabián Ruiz from inside the box. The ball came to him behind the Arsenal defence line, but he fired way wide.
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