PSG Arrives at Champions League Final with Key Players Back
Paris Saint-Germain have delivered their clearest signal yet that they intend to arrive in Budapest at full strength. Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele, both serious doubts in the build-up, are on the plane for Saturday’s Champions League final against Arsenal.
For Luis Enrique, it changes everything.
Hakimi back for another shot at history
Hakimi has not played since pulling his hamstring in the first leg of the semi-final against Bayern Munich, an injury that threatened to strip PSG of one of their key weapons on the biggest stage. The Moroccan is not just another full-back in this team; he scored the opener in last season’s final, setting PSG on their way to a ruthless 5-0 dismantling of Inter Milan and a first Champions League crown.
Now he is back in the squad, and that alone will sharpen Arsenal’s focus on the flanks. If he is fit enough to start, his surging runs and direct threat in transition could tilt the tactical battle. If he is held in reserve, he becomes a devastating option from the bench.
Dembele’s situation has been watched just as closely. The winger picked up a problem in the final Ligue 1 match of the season against Paris FC, sparking fears he would miss the showpiece entirely. His inclusion in the travelling party suggests PSG expect him to play some part. For a side that thrives on width, pace and one‑v‑one chaos, having Dembele available is a significant boost.
Arsenal’s own boost on the eve of the final
Arsenal, though, arrive in Hungary with momentum and a timely lift of their own.
Less than a week after lifting the Premier League trophy, Mikel Arteta’s side stand 90 minutes – or more – from a historic double. The domestic title has already made this a landmark campaign; adding the Champions League at the expense of the reigning holders would elevate it into club folklore.
They may be reinforced at the back. Jurrien Timber, out since March with a hamstring injury suffered against Everton and absent for 14 matches in all competitions, has been named in the squad travelling to Hungary after returning to training this week. Even if he is short of full match sharpness, his presence alone widens Arteta’s defensive options on a night when every duel and every rotation will matter.
Barcola’s warning and PSG’s collective edge
Inside the PSG camp, the message is clear: this is not a team satisfied with one European crown.
“It’s a great honour to be playing in a second final,” winger Bradley Barcola told club media, a reminder of how quickly this squad has grown used to the sharp end of the competition. “We’re going to do everything we can to win it. We’re trying to build as much confidence as possible ahead of this final, and we’re going to work hard to make sure we’re ready.
“I really think it’s our collective strength. The fact that we play together, attack together and defend together. We really play as a team, and that’s our greatest strength right now.”
That “collective strength” already broke Arsenal once. PSG ended the Gunners’ run at the semi-final stage last season, winning 3-1 on aggregate and sealing the tie with second-leg goals from Fabian Ruiz and Hakimi. Arsenal have carried that scar all the way to this rematch.
Now they meet again, with Arsenal no longer the plucky challenger but the newly crowned champions of England, and PSG standing as the team to beat in Europe.
PSG’s travelling squad
Luis Enrique’s squad for Budapest underlines the depth at his disposal:
- Goalkeepers: Chevalier, Safonov, Renato Marin
- Defenders: Hakimi, Beraldo, Marquinhos, Zabarnyi, L. Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Pacho
- Midfielders: Fabian, Vitinha, Mayulu, Dro, Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves
The forwards are not listed in the club’s initial release, but the spine is obvious. Marquinhos to marshal the back line. Vitinha and Zaire-Emery to set the tempo. Fabian, scorer against Arsenal last year, again in the engine room.
Across from them stand the Premier League winners, chasing a season that may never be bettered.
One side seeks to defend a European crown. The other is hunting a first. By tomorrow evening, we will know whether PSG’s returning stars have preserved an era, or whether Arsenal have just kicked off one of their own.
