BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Paris Saint-Germain clinched the UEFA Champions League for the second season running defeating Arsenal on penalties.

History beckoned for either side, none more the Gunners who were chasing a maiden title while Luis Enrique’s charges were hunting back-to-back triumphs in the Champions League.

The holders were stunned in the fifth minute when Kai Havertz managed to stay level with the last defender to retrieve a forward ball on the wide side of the area, before running clear on goal and powering one into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

PSG looked to go back on level terms right through a snap shot around the six-yard box by Fabian Ruiz following a through pass by Desire Doue, but the Spaniard midfielder failed to beat David Raya.

The Ligue 1 giants continued to probe and went close again just before half-time when Ruiz nodded over from close-range after the Gunners struggled to clear a low cross from Nuno Mendes.

PSG were given a route back and earned a penalty midway in the second half after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came in on the near side to draw a foul off Cristhian Mosquera and Ousmane Dembele stepped up to beat Raya.

With the lead surrendered, the Gunners went to bench to regain control in that regard and introduced Viktor Gyokeres for Martin Odegaard as well as Jurrien Timber ahead of Mosquera.

Kvaratskhelia almost added to their cushion when he beat William Saliba to a 50-50 battle to run clear before releasing a shot from a tight angle, but the outside of the woodwork denied him.

The match went all the way to extra-time with no winner in regulation time, and the same sequence in the additional spell continued and it came down to a penalty shoot-out to determine a victor.

In the shoot-out, the defending champions proved superior after Gabriel Magalhaes skied the decisive spot-kick while Lucas Beraldo had netted for the Ligue 1 giants who claimed back-to-back titles.

• Source: KickOff.com