PSG go back-to-back and join 'greatest of all time'

Paris Saint-Germain have cemented their place among European football’s elite by becoming only the second club in the Champions League era to win back-to-back titles, sealing a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in Budapest following a tense 1-1 draw. The French champions’ nervy triumph at the Ferenc Puskás Aréna on Saturday night followed their emphatic 5-0 dismantling of Inter Milan in Munich exactly one year earlier, reinforcing their claim to be among the continent’s greatest teams. Only Real Madrid, with their historic three-peat from 2016 to 2018, have matched PSG’s achievement in the modern era of the competition, which has been played under the Champions League banner since 1993.

Speaking in the aftermath of the final, PSG manager Luis Enrique described the moment as “the best of the season,” acknowledging the emotional toll of back-to-back triumphs. “I'm mixed—excitement, fatigue, everything,” he said. “But this is the best moment of the season. We are still champs, two in a row, it's amazing.” The Spaniard, who joins an elite group of just five coaches to win three European Cups or Champions League titles, oversaw a squad that remained largely unchanged from last year’s triumph, with only goalkeeper Matvey Safonov making his first start in place of outgoing shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City. Since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Enrique’s side have dominated domestic and continental competition, claiming eight of the ten available trophies and falling short only in the Club World Cup and French Cup this term.

Analysts and pundits were quick to hail PSG’s achievement as a historic milestone. Julien Laurens, European football correspondent for BBC Radio 5 Live, stated that while last season’s victory was significant, this year’s triumph held greater weight due to the challenges overcome. “Tonight PSG have made history,” he said. “Last season will always be special, but I think they will enjoy this more as they had to dig deep, fight, and come back.” PSG’s dominance extended beyond the final, with the club registering the most goals scored (45) and the highest average possession (60.5%) across the campaign. Laurens added that the back-to-back success places PSG in rarified company, a level few coaches—including Pep Guardiola—have reached with elite squads.

The victory also elevates PSG above Marseille as France’s most successful club in the competition’s history, with their second title extending their lead. With the potential to join Madrid on five consecutive wins if they continue their current trajectory, PSG’s ambitions now stretch beyond domestic dominance. For now, they stand alongside the game’s greatest dynasties—Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool—having proven that their victory in 2024 was no fluke, but the beginning of a new era in European football.