The quest for Champions League supremacy comes down to this: PSG battling Arsenal in the final. Follow below for live updates.
More than attack vs. defense
The overriding narrative ahead of this Champions League final has been of contrasting styles: The artful and bewitching sophisticates from the continent against the grizzled set-piece brawlers from England's capital. This simplified summation of Paris Saint-Germain's and Arsenal's playing styles certainly adds intrigue; it's an almost scholarly look into what is the most effective way to approach the modern game. Force or finesse? Industry or ingenuity? Caution or courage?
But the two teams are much more well-rounded than that narrative suggests.
PSG don't just throw caution to the wind. Marquinhos and Willian Pacho are an excellent center-back duo and continue to get stronger, helped along by the more experienced player's ability to speak Spanish to the young Ecuadorian. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia might be the most exciting attacker on the planet, but he definitely doesn't shirk his defensive responsibilities.
Arsenal's devotion to set-pieces and reluctance to take risks are elements that generally make them less appealing to watch than PSG, but there are individuals in Mikel Arteta's ensemble who are capable of lighting up European football's biggest stage. Declan Rice's great strides upfield are exhilarating, and Bukayo Saka is capable of deciding matches with a moment of breathtaking beauty.
Don't get too fixated on the narrative. There's a chance this Champions League final could go off script and produce something truly unexpected.
Starting XIs
PSG (4-3-3) 🇫🇷
Matvei Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) 🏴
David Raya; Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapie; Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard; Kai Havertz
Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele proved their fitness in the days ahead of the Champions League final and will start in Hungary. Warren Zaire-Emery, the young midfielder who has also impressively filled in at full-back, can count himself unlucky to be dropped for Fabian Ruiz, who started last year's final.
There were a few pressing questions about Arsenal's lineup.
Kai Havertz's ability to drop from the attack and bulk up the midfield was preferred to Viktor Gyokeres' more traditional center-forward attributes. Jurrien Timber, who's just returned from over two months on the sidelines, and Riccardo Calafiori are on the bench while Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie start in the full-back positions.
Martin Odegaard got the nod ahead of Eberechi Eze as the main creator in midfield. Myles Lewis-Skelly keeps his place in the starting lineup after spending most of the season on the fringes of Mikel Arteta's plans.
The real stars of the show
UEFA's pre-kickoff festivities will feature a performance from The Killers.
There will inevitably be some famous faces in the crowd, too, taking a break from the magnificent architecture, peaceful bath houses, and raucous ruin bars of Budapest.
But it's what's on the pitch that counts.
As the most recent Ballon d'Or winner, Ousmane Dembele is an obvious star attraction of this showdown, but the players either side of him in Paris Saint-Germain's attack, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, are the true entertainers.
For Arsenal, Eberechi Eze, who promises to make an impact off the bench, might be the most watchable red-clad player due to how he glides around the pitch and can produce the unexpected.
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