Champions League Final | Will PSG Defend Their Title or Arsenal Win Their First Championship?
Arsenal are set to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. This highly anticipated European blockbuster will be held in Budapest.
Mikel Arteta’s side have put on impressive displays in their last five matches and claimed a run of successive wins. They staged a stunning comeback to beat Manchester City and secure the Premier League title. Riding on the momentum of this domestic triumph, the team is now aiming for the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy. In the semi-finals, Arsenal eliminated Atlético Madrid with an aggregate score of 2-1. This is only the second time in the club’s history that they have reached the Champions League final, having defeated a host of top European teams along the way. A win in this final will hand Arsenal their first-ever Champions League crown, but they are bound to face an arduous challenge.
Recent reports suggest Paris Saint-Germain are in steady form ahead of the decisive tie, with great harmony within the dressing room. Although they lost to Paris FC in their closing league match, the French outfit will undoubtedly raise their game for the Champions League. They beat Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals to advance to the final. Led by Luis Enrique, the defending champions are hungry to become just the second team to retain the title since the UEFA Champions League was restructured. The two sides will battle it out on neutral ground, and the fierce encounter will make the competition even more gruelling. Paris Saint-Germain still hold an excellent chance to defeat Arsenal and lift the European top-flight trophy.
- Location: Budapest, Hungary
- Stadium: Puskás Aréna
- Date: Saturday, May 30
- Kick-off Time: 07:00 PM GMT / 09:00 PM CEST (Local Time)
Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Team News
Arsenal News
It is great news for Mikel Arteta's side that they have weathered the congested fixture schedule in the closing phase of the league without being worn down. Kai Havertz has delivered outstanding performances late in the campaign, leaving Arteta with a tough call for the final. He is weighing up two options: deploying Yokeres, who can use his physicality to run one-on-one and trouble Marquinhos, or handing a starting berth to Havertz, the forward who scored the decisive goal for Chelsea in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final.
In midfield, Lewis-Skelly, Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice are highly likely to start. Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka are also seen as a solid choice for the wide positions.
Arsenal's biggest concern lies at right-back. Jurriën Timber is recovering slowly from injury. Though he is almost certain to be named in Arsenal's matchday squad for the final in Budapest, it remains a huge question mark whether he can effectively contain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Alternatively, if Mosquera starts at right-back, William Saliba, the right centre-back, will have to dedicate far more focus to defensive duties in the Champions League final.
When it comes to substitutes, Eberechi Eze is set to be one of Arteta's key backup options. Mikel Merino's timely return from injury also gives Arsenal an extra tactical ploy, enabling them to launch aerial attacks with late headers in the closing stages of the game.
Paris Saint-Germain News
Paris Saint-Germain have focused most of their attention on the Champions League throughout the second half of the season, a mindset that has helped them reach the final for the second year running.
There is no doubt that their attacking front three for the final will once again be Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé and Doudou Doué. As for the midfield, the team are waiting to see if Achraf Hakimi can make a timely comeback. The Moroccan right-back picked up an injury late in the first leg against Bayern Munich and has not taken part in group training ever since.
If Hakimi is unable to start, French international Warren Zaïre-Emery will most likely fill the starting right-back spot. Just like in last season's Champions League final, Fabián Ruiz will line up alongside Vitinha and João Neves in midfield. Should Hakimi be fit to start, Zaïre-Emery will move back to his preferred midfield role.
In defence, Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov will undoubtedly pose a major threat to Arsenal's forwards. The defensive pairing of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho boasts excellent chemistry, and they are fully determined to avoid a repeat of the heavy defeat they suffered against Chelsea in last year's FIFA Club World Cup final.
On the bench, Lee Kang-in, Senny Mayulu, Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos form PSG's strongest backup lineup. Their quality was fully proven in last year's UEFA Super Cup, where they scored a late equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur.
Current Form
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal Head-to-Head Records
| Date/Competition | Home Team | Score (HT/FT) | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/05/08 UEFA Champions League | Paris Saint-Germain | 2-1 (HT 1-0 FT 2-1) | Arsenal |
| 2025/04/30 UEFA Champions League | Arsenal | 0-1 (HT 0-1 FT 0-1) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2024/10/02 UEFA Champions League | Arsenal | 2-0 (HT 2-0 FT 2-0) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2018/07/28 International Champions Cup | Arsenal | 5-1 (HT 1-0 FT 5-1) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2016/11/24 UEFA Champions League | Arsenal | 2-2 (HT 1-1 FT 2-2) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2016/09/14 UEFA Champions League | Paris Saint-Germain | 1-1 (HT 1-0 FT 1-1) | Arsenal |
Paris Saint-Germain Recent Matches
| Date/Competition | Home Team | Score (HT/FT) | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/05/18 Ligue 1 | Paris FC | 2-1 (HT 0-0 FT 2-1) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2026/05/14 Ligue 1 | RC Lens | 0-2 (HT 0-1 FT 0-2) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2026/05/11 Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 1-0 (HT 0-0 FT 1-0) | Stade Brestois 29 |
| 2026/05/07 UEFA Champions League | FC Bayern Munich | 1-1 (HT 0-1 FT 1-1) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2026/05/02 Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 2-2 (HT 1-1 FT 2-2) | Lorient |
| 2026/04/29 UEFA Champions League | Paris Saint-Germain | 5-4 (HT 3-2 FT 5-4) | FC Bayern Munich |
| 2026/04/26 Ligue 1 | Angers SCO | 0-3 (HT 0-2 FT 0-3) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2026/04/23 Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 3-0 (HT 2-0 FT 3-0) | FC Nantes |
| 2026/04/20 Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 1-2 (HT 0-2 FT 1-2) | Lyon |
| 2026/04/15 UEFA Champions League | Liverpool | 0-2 (HT 0-0 FT 0-2) | Paris Saint-Germain |
Arsenal Recent Matches
| Date/Competition | Home Team | Score (HT/FT) | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/05/24 Premier League | Crystal Palace | 1-2 (HT 0-1 FT 1-2) | Arsenal |
| 2026/05/19 Premier League | Arsenal | 1-0 (HT 1-0 FT 1-0) | Burnley |
| 2026/05/10 Premier League | West Ham United | 0-1 (HT 0-0 FT 0-1) | Arsenal |
| 2026/05/06 UEFA Champions League | Arsenal | 1-0 (HT 1-0 FT 1-0) | Atletico Madrid |
| 2026/05/03 Premier League | Arsenal | 3-0 (HT 3-0 FT 3-0) | Fulham |
| 2026/04/30 UEFA Champions League | Atletico Madrid | 1-1 (HT 0-1 FT 1-1) | Arsenal |
| 2026/04/26 Premier League | Arsenal | 1-0 (HT 1-0 FT 1-0) | Newcastle United |
| 2026/04/19 Premier League | Manchester City | 2-1 (HT 1-1 FT 2-1) | Arsenal |
| 2026/04/16 UEFA Champions League | Arsenal | 0-0 (HT 0-0 FT 0-0) | Sporting CP |
| 2026/04/11 Premier League | Arsenal | 1-2 (HT 1-1 FT 1-2) | Bournemouth AFC |
