Official UEFA Champions League Podcast

It was an evening of high drama in Budapest as Paris Saint-Germain edged out Arsenal 4-3 on penalties to secure back-to-back Champions League titles.
Kai Havertz gave Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side the perfect start with a superb sixth-minute finish; a lead they held onto until midway through the second half when Ousmane Dembélé equalised for Paris with a clinical penalty after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was fouled in the box. It finished 1-1 at full time, and stayed that way during extra time, to take the final to penalties for the first time since 2016. And in the shootout, Paris emerged victorious, misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel proving pivotal as the French side won 4-3 on penalties to claim successive Champions League triumphs.
We look back on a fascinating showpiece in Budapest and get reaction from the winning camp, hearing from Désiré Doué and Illia Zabarnyi. Plus, we look back on what was an enthralling 2025/26 competition.

Budapest’s Champions League final will see Paris Saint-Germain face Arsenal. 
Paris put on an away masterclass in Munich, holding Bayern 1-1 on the night, to triumph 6-5 on aggregate, and progress to back-to-back Champions League finals. It was Ousmane Dembélé’s 3rd-minute strike that proved pivotal, with an added-time Harry Kane strike giving Bayern late hope, but it was the defending champions who held on to book their place in the Budapest showpiece. 
We look back on a fascinating semi-final second leg and get reaction from Paris midfielder João Neves. We then look ahead to what’s sure to be a mouth-watering final in Hungary at the end of May – will Paris defend their trophy? Or will Arsenal claim their first ever European Cup?

We now have our first UEFA Champions League finalist. 
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side battled past Diego Simeone’s Atleti team in two tightly fought semi-final encounters to emerge 2-1 aggregate winners. The match-winner on the night in north London was Bukayo Saka, whose first-half goal secured the Gunners a decisive 1-0 second leg victory to see them progress to their first Champions League final since 2006.   
We dissect all the action on a nervy night in north London and get reaction to Arsenal reaching the Budapest showpiece at the end of May, hearing from goalscorer Saka and their delighted manager Mikel Arteta.  
We also look ahead to Wednesday’s tantalising semi-final second leg in Munich, where Bayern look to overturn an extraordinary 5-4 first leg deficit against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Wednesday night’s semi-final first leg between Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal ended in a stalemate after spot kicks for both sides saw the match end 1-1.  
  
Arsenal took the lead late in the first half thanks to Viktor Gyökeres’ penalty but Julián Alvarez was later handed the opportunity to draw the hosts level. The Argentinian fired his shot home to send the Atleti fans into jubilation, and set up next Tuesday’s second leg showdown in north London. 
  
In the podcast we hear from Arsenal’s Gyökeres and Atleti’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The semi-finals kicked off on Tuesday with an electric first leg between two European giants. 
  
It was UEFA Champions League football at a relentless pace as Paris and Bayern poured in nine goals from seven different players. The breathless tie featured non-stop action with the hosts capturing victory at the Parc des Princes and taking a 5-4 lead into the second leg.  

Natalie Sawyer, Kevin Hatchard and John Bradley break down the historic match and look ahead to Wednesday’s semi-final clash at the Estadio Metropolitano where Arsenal and Atleti will battle to gain the advantage before a return trip to London.