What to know before PSG – Arsenal, the Champions League final

On Saturday, May 30 at 6:00 PM, Paris Saint-Germain will face Arsenal on the pitch of the Puskás Arena in Budapest. At stake: a second consecutive Champions League title. "Once is historic, twice is legendary," repeat the Parisian supporters. This "back-to-back" – two consecutive victories in the competition – has only been achieved by Real Madrid in the modern era, with three titles between 2016 and 2018.

On the squad front, good news for PSG: French Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi have recovered from their injuries and are included in the 24-player squad. Paris will thus be able to rely on a full-strength lineup at this crucial moment. In the streets of Paris, hundreds of thousands of people are expected. The police prefecture has announced a security operation "prepared with meticulous care." French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged "a few moments of tension" near the Parc des Princes at the start of the match, where a public screening is planned, but sought to downplay the situation: "When there are disturbances, there are interventions, but that doesn't mean it's chaos." The match's 6:00 PM kickoff time was chosen by UEFA first to "enhance the overall experience for supporters, teams, and host cities." But there is also an economic and media calculation: to reach a wider global audience. Finally, in terms of mindset, Luis Enrique summed up Parisian ambition on Friday at a press conference: "It's a motivation for us to continue being one of the best teams in Europe and the world." Captain Marquinhos added: "Once you've tasted this title, you crave to relive such moments." A hunger for victory still present, just hours before kickoff.