Champions League Final: PSG vs. Arsenal

• Who is competing: Paris Saint–Germain (PSG) vs. Arsenal
• For what: UEFA Champions League Final
• Where: Puskas Arena, Budapest (Hungary)
• When: Saturday, May 30, 9:45 PM

The winner of this season's UEFA Champions League will be decided on Saturday in Budapest. In the final, Paris Saint–Germain (PSG) will face Arsenal.

Historically, neither of these are superpowers of Europe. However, both teams have proven their capabilities in recent years. They now stand proudly at the top of Europe. They have reached here not only as teams playing the final but also as champions of two of the world's most popular domestic leagues.

PSG's dominance is established in France's Ligue 1. They have won 12 league titles in the last 14. Arsenal, after settling for second place for three consecutive years in the English Premier League, finally took another step this year and won the title.

Al Jazeera Sport presents here all you need to know about these two teams aiming to elevate their successful season even further by winning Europe's biggest club football prize.

• How did PSG reach the Champions League final?

PSG was forced to play the Champions League playoffs this year after finishing 11th in the group stage with 36 teams participating. They were three places behind Manchester City, who held the last automatic qualifying spot for the Round of 16. Two losses against Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the initial eight-game stretch raised questions about the reigning champions.

A happy moment for them was beating Bayer Leverkusen 7–2 in Germany. In the playoffs, PSG secured a narrow 5–4 aggregate victory against French rivals Monaco. They then demolished Chelsea and Liverpool with aggregate scores of 8–2 and 4–0, respectively.

However, they faced a tough challenge in the semi-finals. It was like a repeat of the group stage matches. An excellent 5–4 aggregate victory against Bayern Munich in the French capital. PSG secured their place in the final by playing a pressured 1–1 draw in the second leg in Germany.

• How did Arsenal reach the Champions League final?

Arsenal is the only team to reach the final this Champions League season without losing a single match so far. Winning all eight games, Arsenal finished at the top of the group stage. In this process, they scored 24 goals against the opponent's post while conceding only 4.

However, Arsenal's capabilities were severely tested in the knockout stages. They defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3–1 on aggregate in the Round of 16. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, the North London club advanced to the next round by only a one-goal margin against Sporting Lisbon and Atletico Madrid.

• How did PSG perform in last season's Champions League?

In last season's final, PSG defeated Inter Milan 5–0 to lift the trophy for the first time in their history. In the victory at Munich's Allianz Arena, Desire Doue scored two goals. This left no doubt about the French club's title aspirations. The moment of winning the trophy, which Parisians desired the most, was perhaps fittingly marked by the then 19-year-old French player Doue capturing everyone's attention.

• How did Arsenal perform in last season's Champions League?

There is a fact that adds to the excitement of Saturday's final. Last season, PSG ended Arsenal's journey in the Champions League semi-finals. In the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal in the fourth minute. In the second leg in Paris, Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi put the home team in a strong position. Arsenal lost 3–1 on aggregate, with Bukayo Saka scoring a consolation goal.

When did Arsenal last beat PSG?

In last season's Champions League group stage, Arsenal registered a 2–0 victory at their home ground. In the match at the Emirates Stadium, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka scored the goals. Both goals were scored in the first half. However, PSG had the dominance in statistics. PSG had 65 percent ball possession and took a total of 9 shots. Arsenal, on the other hand, took only 6 shots.

• How was PSG's performance this season?

Although Lens forced the title race to the final two rounds, PSG won their fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title this season. They secured the title with one game to spare by winning 2–1 against their closest rivals Lens on their home ground. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ibrahima Mbaye scored, ending all mathematical possibilities of being overtaken in the standings.

The season ended with a 2–1 defeat against Paris FC in the French capital. However, PSG maintained a 6-point lead at the top. This same closest geographical rival had broken their dream of winning a consecutive 'treble' by eliminating PSG from the French Cup in January. Therefore, this recent loss to city rivals Paris FC further angered them.

• How was Arsenal's performance this season?

Arsenal also had to wait until the final match of the league to become England's champion. As the 22-year drought of lifting the Premier League trophy ended, Arsenal didn't care much about how and when this moment arrived.

Mikel Arteta's team was far ahead at one point. Later, Manchester City overtook them. City briefly went to the top of the table in the last few weeks. Later, after drawing with Everton and Bournemouth, City missed their chance. Taking advantage of this, Arsenal put in their full effort, regained the top spot, and clinched the title. In this way, they also took revenge for the defeat against City in the League Cup final. However, their hope of a 'treble' ended after a second-division club Southampton won the quarter-final.

• How many times has PSG won the Champions League?

Last season's Champions League victory was PSG's first title in the competition's history. Before that, they reached the final once. In 2019, Bayern Munich defeated them 1–0. By defeating Inter Milan, they became the second French team to lift this trophy. Before that, in 1993, Marseille won the title by defeating AC Milan 1–0.

• How many times has Arsenal won the Champions League?

Arsenal has not yet won the Champions League. This is only their second appearance in the final. In 2006, Barcelona thwarted their previous attempt. The Catalan team won that match 2–1. English teams have won this major European club title 15 times. Among them, Liverpool has won six times and Manchester United has won three times.

• Head-to-Head

This will be their eighth encounter. So far, both teams have won two matches each. Their first meeting was in the old 'UEFA Cup Winners' Cup'. Later, this competition merged with the UEFA Cup and became the 'Europa League'. Arsenal advanced 2–1 on aggregate by winning 1–0 at home and drawing 1–1 in Paris. Kevin Campbell scored in the home win. Ian Wright scored for Arsenal and David Ginola scored for PSG in the match in Paris.

PSG Team Information

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele was taken off the field in the last game of the season due to a hamstring problem. This forward was one of the few players not rested before the Champions League final. Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Chevalier are both doubtful to play due to injury. Nuno Mendes is expected to return to the field after recovering from a minor injury.

• PSG's Probable Starting XI

Safonov; Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pascho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

Arsenal Team Information

Jurrien Timber, who has been out for eight weeks due to a groin injury, is expected to miss this match as well. His teammate defender Ben White will also not play due to injury. Noni Madueke's hamstring problem is unlikely to keep him out of the game. However, Bukayo Saka is certainly preferred over him for the winger position.

• Arsenal's Probable Starting XI

Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Luis-Skelly, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Gyokeres.