The UEFA Liga Campeões final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal remains electrifying at Puskás Aréna, with the score 0-1 in favor of the English team. Kai Havertz opened the scoring 5 minutes into the first half, putting Arsenal at an advantage in the decision. The match, played in Budapeste, Hungria, maintains high intensity in the opening 12 minutes, with both clubs seeking the much-coveted title for the 2025/26 season. Fans follow every play with fervor. The tension is palpable in the stadium.
Gol of Kai Havertz sets early advantage of Arsenal
Arsenal opened the scoring at the beginning of the match, driven by a quick and effective play. Kai Havertz escaped alone on the left side of the attack, receiving the ball after a disputed move. The German striker fired a cross shot that gave the opposing goalkeeper no chance, finding the net 5 minutes into the first half. The play started with Marquinhos popping the ball against Trossard’s body, leaving it clear for Havertz to finish with precision.
Havertz’s goal consolidated Arsenal’s good start to the match. The English team has been scoring high, putting constant pressure on Paris Saint-Germain. Nos In the first few minutes, PSG showed difficulty in getting out of its defense, suffering from the opponent’s advanced marking. The early advantage puts Arsenal in a comfortable position, allowing him to manage the pace of the match.
Minuto by the minute: main moves of the 1st half
The match at Puskás Aréna has been busy, with several important actions in the first minutes. The Mix Vale portal, with its live minute-by-minute coverage, follows the decisive moves. Para doesn’t miss any updates, subscribe for free to Mix Vale notifications at www.mixvale.com and receive news instantly, directly on your device. Não miss any details of your favorite team. Key moments so far include:
- 00′ 1T:Hakimi commits a hard foul on Trossard right at the beginning of the game, indicating the intensity of the confrontation.
- 01′ 1T:Rice lifts the ball at the edge of the box. Gabriel Magalhães tries the deflection, but sends it straight out, wasting the first chance.
- 02′ 1T:Nuno Mendes fires from Paris Saint-Germain’s defense field. Ele tries a trivela pass looking for Vitinha, but misses by hitting Odegaard’s head, losing possession of the ball.
- 04′ 1T:Arsenal starts the game with a loud and intense marking. Paris Saint-Germain still can’t get out of their defense, feeling the initial pressure.
- 05′ 1T: ARSENAL GOAL! Kai Havertz!Havertz escapes alone to the left and fires a cross shot. Marquinhos broke the ball against Trossard, and the space was clear for the German to finish, opening the score.
- 06′ 1T:Fabián Ruiz remains on the ground after a collision in midfield, requiring assistance and briefly stopping the match.
- 08′ 1T:Doué crosses the ball into Arsenal’s area, but Saliba, attentive, makes the cut calmly, removing the danger.
- 10′ 1T:Doué tries to pass to Kvaratskhelia, but Gabriel Magalhães intercepts the play with the tip of his boot, preventing the Parisian attack from progressing.
- 11′ 1T:Ruiz is launched at Arsenal’s second stick, however, the ball had already gone out of bounds, resulting in a goal kick for the English team.
The game continues in progress, with the search for each space and intense competition in all sectors of the field. The teams show great commitment in the search for the title.
Contexto from the final and the coaches
The UEFA Liga Campeões final brings together two of European football’s biggest powers in search of ultimate glory. Paris Saint-Germain, led by Luis Enrique, already has a recent history of success in the tournament. Luis Enrique made history last season by guiding the French club to their first Champions League trophy, won with a 5-0 thrashing of Milão’s Inter in Munique. Desde July 2023, when he took over PSG, the Spanish coach has already accumulated 10 titles with the team, including three Campeonatos Franceses, one Copa Intercontinental, one Supercopa from Uefa, two Copas from França and three Copas from Liga Francesa. PSG fans raised a flag in honor of Luis Enrique before the match, demonstrating the coach’s importance to the club.
Do On the other hand, Arsenal, under the leadership of Mikel Arteta, seeks its first European title in the history of Champions League. The London team arrives strong after winning the Premier League in the 2025/26 season, ending a 22-year fast without beating the Campeonato Inglês. The national title was confirmed on May 19, 2026, one round in advance, after second-placed Manchester City drew 1-1 against Bournemouth. The team celebrated their rival’s stumble live, a moment that injected even more confidence into the squad. The trio of “Gabriéis” – Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus – is highlighted in Arsenal, and the three Brazilians aim for an unprecedented achievement for their careers and for the club.
Pré-game: environment and expectations in Budapeste
The atmosphere in Puskás Aréna, in Budapeste, before the start of the Champions League final, was one of great celebration and anticipation. The pre-game show featured a performance by the band The Killers, which entertained the fans present at the stadium. Football’s Ícones as Thierry Henry and Kimpembe were responsible for taking the famous “Orelhuda”, Liga’s Campeões trophy, to the field, increasing the tension and emotion of the moment. Both teams warmed up. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia warmed up for Paris Saint-Germain and David Raya for Arsenal, preparing for the big clash.
The French fans were massively present. PSG’s Ultras arrived at the stadium with flags and chants, creating a vibrant scene. Arsenal fans also filled the streets of Budapeste, demonstrating their fervent support for the team. Gilberto Silva, Arsenal’s idol and world champion, commented on the expectations before the match. Ele compared the moment to the 2006 final, but expressed a more positive expectation for the current Arsenal, predicting a “little bit of suffering for sure.” PSG, in turn, aims for the double, seeking the second consecutive Champions League title, consolidating its European hegemony.
Arbitragem and starting lineups
The refereeing team responsible for conducting the UEFA Liga Campeões grand final is made up of German officials. The main referee of the match is Daniel Siebert, with assistance from Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn. The choice of an experienced team aims to guarantee the fairness and impartiality of the game at such a decisive moment.
- Goleiro:39 M. Safonov
- Defensores:2 A. Hakimi, 5 (captain) Marquinhos, 51 W. Pacho, 25 N. Mendes
- Meio-field:87 J. Neves, 17 Vitinha, 8 F. Ruiz
- Atacantes:14 D. Doué, 10 O. Dembélé, 7 K. Kvaratskhelia
On the PSG bench, the players Lucas Chevalier, Renato Marin, Lucas Beraldo, Ilya Zabarnyi, Lucas Hernández, Kang-in Lee, Senny Mayulu, MVXN10XVḾndez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, are available for coach Luis Enrique. Gonçalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye.
- Goleiro:1 D. Raya
- Defensores:3 C. Mosquera, 2 W. Saliba, 6 G. Magalhães, 5 P. Hincapié
- Meio-field:8 (captain) M. Ødegaard, 41 D. Rice, 49 M. Lewis-Skelly
- Atacantes:7 B. Saka, 29 K. Havertz, 19 L. Trossard
Para or Arsenal, the reserve bank has Kepa Arrizabalaga, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurriën Timber, Martín Zubimendi, Max Dowman, Eberechi Eze, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres. Ben White is injured, with a knee problem, and is not available for the match. Kai Havertz acts as the starting center forward, while Viktor Gyökeres, the team’s top scorer in Campeonato Inglês, starts on the bench.
Estatísticas from Champions League 2025/2026
The numbers in the Liga of the Campeões 2025/2026 reflect the performance of the teams until the grand final, offering an overview of how PSG and Arsenal reached this decision.
- Finalizações (Média):Paris Saint-Germain records an average of 8.8 shots per match, demonstrating his offensive power and constant search for a goal. Arsenal, in turn, has a slightly lower average, with 6.4 completions, indicating a perhaps more surgical or efficient approach to its opportunities.
- Escanteios (Média):PSG has an average of 5.1 corners per game, which suggests a constant presence in attack and the creation of plays that force the opposing defense to concede set pieces. Arsenal has an average of 5 corners, a very close number, confirming the offensive pressure of both teams.
- Cartões yellow (Média):In disciplinary terms, Paris Saint-Germain has an average of 0.9 yellow cards per match, indicating more cautious or less foul behavior. Arsenal, with 1.8 yellow cards on average, appears a little more aggressive in disputes, which may reflect its intensity in marking.
- Expulsões:PSG recorded 2 expulsions throughout the campaign, which points to moments of greater tension or strict disciplinary decisions. Arsenal, in contrast, had no player sent off in the competition, maintaining team discipline throughout all phases.
Essas statistics provide a glimpse into the characteristics of each team and can influence the dynamics of the ongoing game in the final.