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Luis Enrique dedicated another Champions League final appearance as a gift to Paris Saint-Germain’s supporters, after his side edged past Bayern Munich in the last four.
A thrilling 5-4 win last week at Parc des Princes left PSG in slight control ahead of Wednesday’s return meeting at the Allianz Arena, where Ousmane Dembele needed only three minutes to open the scoring.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue passed up chances in the second half to further extend PSG’s lead, before Harry Kane levelled the second leg in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
A 1-1 draw was not enough for Vincent Kompany’s hosts, though, as PSG progressed as 6-5 aggregate winners to tee up the showpiece with Arsenal, who battled past Atletico Madrid in the other semi-final.
PSG are the first team to reach consecutive Champions League finals since Liverpool in 2018-2019, while they are the first holders to reach the final since Real Madrid in 2018, much to Luis Enrique’s delight.
“Good memories. We could leave the match with a lot of intensity. The defence were better than the attack,” the PSG boss said.
“The character we showed against a team like Bayern is so positive. We’re so happy to reach a second Champions League final in a row.
“It was very intense. Very difficult. They play football at the highest level. Both teams are similar, we love to press higher. We are very happy.
“In two days I’m going to celebrate my birthday. I’m very happy. We’re in the next phase of the competition, the final of the Champions League. We want to give our supporters that kind of gift.”
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal: Budapest final set #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/KbTa4HVTCd
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 6, 2026
Although PSG’s 44 goals in 2025-26 are the outright second-most scored by a team in a single edition of the Champions League, behind Barcelona’s 45 in 1999-00, there was a clear change of tactic here.
The Ligue 1 champions allowed Bayern over 65% of possession, prioritising a resolute defence after Dembele’s opener, which was created by the excellent Kvaratskhelia.
After cutting back for Dembele to hammer home, Kvaratskhelia became the first player to either score or assist a goal in seven knockout-stage games within the same Champions League campaign.
Only Kane (22) has been involved in more goals in the competition than Kvaratskhelia (21 – 13 goals, 8 assists) since the Georgian’s PSG debut in February last year.
And the former Napoli winger vowed to continue delivering for the hopeful two-in-a-row champions.
“Very happy we’re in the final,” Kvaratskhelia said. “We know it will be difficult against Arsenal.
“Bayern are one of the best teams right now. It was very difficult. The hardest one this season. We showed we can play against these teams. I will give everything for this badge.”
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