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Champions League final: Possible lineups, what managers said and match prediction
30th May, 2026 07:21 AM
Paris Saint-Germain are aiming to extend their fine knockout phase streak against English sides and break the single-season UEFA Champions League goals record when the French Ligue 1 champions face Arsenal in the competition’s final on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Budapest at the Puskas Arena.
Head-to-head stats
Paris and Arsenal have met seven times in UEFA competition, with two wins each and three draws.
Their most recent meetings came in last season’s Champions League semi-finals, where Paris advanced 3-1 on aggregate. Ousmane Dembélé earned them a 1-0 away win before they triumphed 2-1 at home, with Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scoring ahead of Bukayo Saka’s response.
Their only other knockout tie came in the 1993/94 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals, which Arsenal won after a 1-1 draw in Paris and a 1-0 home win.
Holders Paris are the first French club to reach three European Cup/Champions League finals – and the first to appear in consecutive finals. Last season, they became only the second French side to win the competition, following Marseille’s triumph in 1992/93.
Paris are the first defending champions to reach the Champions League final since Real Madrid did so in 2016/17 and 2017/18, both seasons in which they went on to win the title.
Arsenal have reached the Champions League final for the second time, having previously done so 20 years ago in the 2005/06 season. On that occasion, they were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in Paris.
The Gunners are the fifth different English club to reach the Champions League final in the last eight seasons: Liverpool (twice), Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City (twice) and Chelsea are the others.
What managers said
Luis Enrique, Paris coach: “I’ve loved all the games we’ve played in the competition this season. We have shown, in those eight knockout games particularly, how good a side we are. We needed to suffer in those games, but we showed what sort of a side we are. We have to enjoy playing these kind of games, because you never know when you’re going to experience these sort of occasions again.” He noted.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach: “The preparation has been really, really good, focused [and] positive. We are here because we have earned the right to be here in the manner that we have played and performed in the competition. Tomorrow on that field we’re going to have to earn the right to go and win the trophy.” Arteta said.
Possible line-ups
Paris: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, João Neves; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia
- Achraf Hakimi (thigh) was the biggest doubt for the holders, having not featured since the semi-final first leg against Bayern, but Luis Enrique said both he and Nuno Mendes were available in Friday’s press conference. Ousmane Dembélé was replaced during the first half of Paris’ final league game but he said on Friday that he feels “100% ready” to play.
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Ødegaard; Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard
- Noni Madueke came off with a hamstring injury towards the end of Arsenal’s final league game at Crystal Palace but Mikel Arteta said in Friday’s press conference that he would be fit for the final. Jurriën Timber, out since March with a groin issue, is also available and expected to get the nod over Cristhian Mosquera but defender Ben White is definitely out after suffering a serious knee injury at West Ham on 10 May.
Prediction
PSG 2-0 Arsenal
