Ukrainian Defender Zabarnyi Wins Champions League as PSG Edges Arsenal on Penalties.
Champions League Final: PSG vs. Arsenal
According to Novyny.live: Paris Saint-Germain clinched the Champions League title by defeating Arsenal 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The final was held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, where both sides delivered an intense contest. Goals during regular play came from Kai Havertz for Arsenal in the 6th minute and Ousmane Dembele for PSG, who converted a penalty in the 65th minute.
Ukrainian center-back Illia Zabarnyi entered the match as a substitute in the 106th minute during extra time. This victory marks the first Champions League trophy of Zabarnyi's career. PSG is managed by Luis Enrique, under whose leadership the team achieved this milestone.
Penalty Shootout and Team Lineups
Arsenal struggled from the spot in the shootout. Eberechi Eze missed the target on his attempt, and Gabriel fired wide during the fifth penalty. As a result, PSG secured a 4-3 win in the shootout.
PSG's starting lineup was as follows:
- Safonov
- Hakimi
- Marquinhos (Zabarnyi, 106)
- Pacho
- Mendes
- Ruiz (Zaire-Emery, 95)
- Vitinha (Beraldo, 106)
- Neves
- Doue
- Dembele (Ramos, 90+6)
- Kvaratskhelia (Barcola, 83)
Arsenal fielded the following players:
- Raya
- K. Mosquera (Timber, 66)
- Saliba
- Gabriel
- Incapie
- Odegaard (Gyokeres, 66)
- Rice
- Lewis-Skelly (Zubimendi, 91)
- Saka (Madueke, 83)
- Havertz (Eze, 91)
- Trossard (Martinelli, 83)
Yellow cards were issued to Mosquera, Saka, Gyokeres, and Rice during the match. This triumph is a landmark for PSG and adds another chapter to the history of Ukrainian footballers in the Champions League, following previous winners Andriy Shevchenko, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, and Andriy Lunin.
For PSG, this victory represents a long-awaited achievement after several near-misses in recent years. For Illia Zabarnyi, a young Ukrainian defender, the title is a career-defining moment that highlights the growing influence of Ukrainian talent on the global stage. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be left to rue missed opportunities, as their inability to convert penalties underscores the mental fortitude required in high-pressure shootouts.
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