The final of the Champions League between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain this Saturday ended in a draw at the end of the 90 minutes of regulation time, forcing extra time that promised excitement until the very last second. Kai Havertz scored early for the English side, but Ousmane Dembélé responded with a penalty, maintaining the balance and preventing either team from creating a decisive opportunity during regulation time.
This episode marked the 17th final in the history of the Champions League (formerly the European Cup) that required extra time to determine the European champion, a fact that underscores the intensity and unpredictability of major continental finals.
Before 2026, the competition experienced a period of nine consecutive finals decided within 90 minutes, breaking a trend that dates back to the early days of the tournament. Real Madrid, the Spanish giant, is directly linked to some of the most dramatic finals that went beyond regulation time, having defeated Atlético Madrid on penalties in 2015/16 and triumphed at the end of 120 minutes against the same rival in 2013/14. Furthermore, the Merengues won the first final in history to go into extra time, in 1957/58, against AC Milan.
Liverpool, another European giant, has participated in two finals that were decided beyond 90 minutes, including the legendary final of 2004/05. In that memorable match, the English side came back from a 3-0 deficit against AC Milan in regular time to win on penalties, a moment immortalized as “The Miracle of Istanbul”.
In terms of the most successful clubs in the competition, Real Madrid leads with an impressive tally of 15 titles, cementing its status as the undisputed king of the Champions League. The Spanish dominance began with the creation of the tournament, with five consecutive titles, and was once again evident with three consecutive victories between 2016 and 2018. AC Milan, with seven trophies, is the second most successful club, although it has not won the competition since 2007. Liverpool and Bayern Munich are tied for third place, each with six titles, reinforcing their position among the European elite.
The Champions League remains the most thrilling and unpredictable competition in world football, where each final can turn into an epic battle, often extended beyond regulation time, and where glory is reserved only for the strongest and most resilient.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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