Key events
The song “1-0 to the Arsenal” was born during this run. If they are to win tonight, that’s the likeliest scoreline.
This is the first men’s Champions League final to kick off at 5pm. I asked Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin about it and he sent me this reply on Whatsapp:
With this change, we are placing the fans’ experience at the heart of our planning. The Uefa Champions League final is the highlight of the football season, and the new kick-off time will make it even more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for everyone involved.
“While a 21:00 CET [8pm BST] kick-off is well suited for midweek matches, an earlier kick-off on a Saturday for the final means an earlier finish – regardless of extra time or penalties – and offers fans the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the evening with friends and family, reflecting on the game of the season.
Preamble
In an ideal world, the Champions League final would always involve the two best sides in Europe. Knockout football doesn’t work like that, especially when multiple teams from the big five leagues are in the mix. There’s a decent argument that this is the first time since 2009 that Europe’s two best teams have met in the Champions League final. Paris Saint-Germain are the reigning champions; Arsenal are the champions of Europe’s best league* and unbeaten in this season’s Champions League.
A Champions League final is always mouthwatering but this game has more saliva-producers than most. There’s a fascinating clash of styles, between PSG’s dizzying rotations and Arsenal’s unapologetic pragmatism, and a win for either team would have serious historical significance.
If PSG retain the trophy they deserve to jump into any conversation about the greatest club teams in history. If Arsenal win it for the first time they will leave the Invincibles, the near-invincibles of 1990-91, the Irresistibles of 1997-98 and 2001-02 and the Double-winners of 1970-71 in the shade. It’s up for grabs now.
Kick off 5pm
* So say the Uefa coefficient