Two stats for each side after PSG hold off Arsenal to defend Champions League

[p][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bHvFdN7WNu8wLrn530Abj?si=YHge9CBjTzOH5lV9dAmfQw"][b]Listen to this article on Spotify here.[/b][/a][/p][h2]PSG hold their nerve when it mattered most[/h2][p][b]8[/b] - It is back-to-back years of success for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a], who had to find a different way to victory against a stubborn Arsenal side. It took an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dembele-ousmane/zsMC2Ec0/"]Ousmane Dembele[/a] penalty shortly past the hour mark to cancel out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/havertz-kai/rH8BZWiI/"]Kai Havertz[/a]'s opener. [i]Les Parisiens [/i]then kept their composure in the penalty shootout, converting four of five attempts. It leaves them as the first team to defend their title since 2017/18.[/p][p]These two seasons saw PSG win their first UCL crowns, making them the eighth different team to win their first two UCLs in consecutive years. They are the only ones to do so in the Champions League era, with the others doing so back in the days of the European Cup.[/p][embed guid="b3d53c90-9017-4f17-acda-263e7c6c48a2" url="https://x.com/ChampionsLeague/status/2060814355755610490?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]9 [/b]- After years of trying, it took a younger, more united squad for PSG to be top of the European game. Perhaps the most impressive thing about their run this time around is that they found different ways to win. From a nine-goal thriller against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] in the semi-finals, to shutting out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] a round prior, to going the full distance in Budapest. This PSG side have shown versatility and perseverance to end up as European champions once more.[/p][p]They have also enjoyed much success over English teams over the last year and a bit. [i]Les Parisiens[/i] are now nine without defeat against Premier League clubs, winning six times.[/p][h2]More UCL final misery for Gunners[/h2][p][b]4[/b] - Just as was the case two decades ago, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] are beaten at the final hurdle of the competition. The parallels speak for themselves - taking a first half lead before conceding in the second half. The only difference for the Gunners is that they ended up falling on penalties, the cruellest way to lose any final.[/p][p]Despite their resolute defence, and hard-working spirit, Arsenal have now lost two finals in Europe's premier club competition. They join unwanted company in being the fourth side to lose multiple UCL showpieces, but never win one. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/valencia/CQeaytrD/"]Valencia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/reims/tItR6sEf/"]Reims[/a] have both lost two finals themselves, though [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico Madrid[/a] are one better - or, in this case, one worse - having lost thrice.[/p][embed guid="5a373489-2a84-48ab-8596-c1e46a9ce362" url="https://x.com/ChampionsLeague/status/2060755901435248889?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]46 [/b]- The other difficult aspect for the North Londoners to stomach is the fact that they have been so good in the UCL this term. They won all eight league phase matches - the first to do so - before going 3-4-0 in the knockout rounds. They kept nine clean sheets during their run, conceding multiple times on just one occasion. Yet, it was not enough.[/p][p]Overall, Arsenal went 11-4-0 in the Champions League this campaign, failing to lose a single game. Remarkably, this is not the first time they have done this in a European season and still come up empty-handed. It is the second time this happened to them, with the other occasion occurring some 46 years ago, when they went 4-5-0 in the 1979/80 UEFA Cup Winner Cup, only to lose on penalties to Valencia.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/psg-CjhkPw0k/?mid=EJZRaQ15"]View the match stats for the UEFA Champions League final on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]