Only four times in history, and again after 55 years! This is the statics behind the clashes between two capital cities in Champions Cup / Champions League finals in European football. Paris Saint-Germain – Arsenal London came for the first time after Ajax Amsterdam beat, 2-0, Panathinaikos Athens in the 1971 final, on Wembley, London. The major link between the two moments. The other two similar moments were:
- 1962: Benfica Lisbon – Real Madrid 5-3 (Amsterdam)
- 1966: Real Madrid – Partizan Belgrade 2-1 (Brussels)
45 Champions League finals out of 70, in capital cities
That is all. From a total of 70 matches! The coincidences is that all four clashes in the European Cup / Champions League finals were gathered by other capital cities. It looks a bit strange to mention this, but it is actually not, because from the total of 70, 45 alone were hosted by capital cities, and Budapest does it for the first time. As another premiere, it is the first time when a dispute between two capital cities in a Champions League final ends at shoot-out.
Many more could be on the list
Does this held a significant importance? As a curiosity, pure geographic curiosity, yes. Otherwise, in many countries, cities like Münich, Milan, Istanbul, Liverpool, Manchester, Barcelona etc. can withhold without any problem the role of a capital city, especially in football terms, but also in many economic and geographic ones. The facts are different, though, so lets take them as they are, and mark this special moment. Because the game itself, between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal London, was miserable. The type of football you prefer not to watch, if you really have a choice, knowing what to expect off.
You don’t dominate a Champions League final by ball possession, but by playing football
Some will point out the statistics, that the Englishmen had only 24% ball possession, so in theory PSG was playing all by itself. The reality, for those who saw the game is that the French team played really shit, and have no real opportunities to significantly make a difference, confirming the fact that passing five times more than your opponent means nothing if you can’t create goal chances. In the end, Paris Saint-Germain won on penalties, because of the very poor performance belonging to Eze and Gabriel, from Arsenal, who missed.
Paris beats London in the Champions League final
In the end, as we draw a thin comfortable line, we should say that PSG was, maybe, the one more deserving winner, for the entire season in the Champions League, not for this sole one game. It is true that the club refined a machinery that plays great football when it wants, the only problem is that it wants very rare. But, so be it, London was defeated by Paris in Budapest. Two of the greatest capitals in terms of legacy for whole mankind were head to head in a sports competition, in one of the finest capital cities in the Eastern half or Europe.
The fear and the regret (potentially)
It is a fine symbol of competitiveness, and Arsenal London took its share, though, today, winning its first Premier League title in 24 years, and having also played their second final in the Champions League, after 20 years. They are yet to win one, but if they will keep relying on Arteta, the moment can come sooner than later, because Arsenal really proved to be a solid squad against PSG. Maybe their fear of losing like Inter Milan, 5-0, played a big role in their reluctancy, but these things can be picked up on the go.
The other European Cup finals
Speaking about this top-off for club season 2025-2026, we couldn’t recall the other two European Cup finals: Freiburg – Aston Villa 0-3, a classic win from Unai Emery’s side, who proved again to be a second tier European great coach, with five wins of this trophy, and one single final lost: when managing… Arsenal! But the biggest lesson from them all, very tight with the title and the idea of this text, was played in Leipzig: the Europe Conference final, where Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0.
Crystal Palace – Rayo Vallecano mirror a true story
Of course, neither Freiburg, nor Aston Villa are from capital cities, but Crystal and Rayo are. Kind off. A statement which resonates most with Conference: kind of a competition. More linked to the long gone Intertoto Cup, than to a real, solid European competition. And the final output, thru is teams, is the strongest witness on that: two teams, from the periphery of London, and Madrid, if you wandered were they are from, decided the trophy in a quite boring game.
Final thoughts about European football
The two are kind of teams, under a slight exaggeration, that can merely win a trophy by being allowed in this kind of competition. It is true, Crystal Palace should have played in the Europa League this season, they are better than the competition they won, and I clearly remember as well when Rayo Vallecano did play in the quarter finals of UEFA Cup in 2001, in their only previous European participation. But these arguments are very small when it comes to seeing the big picture.
40 minutes less of torment comparing to the Champions League final
Conference League really looks for small peripheric Sunday football. It is not necessary something bad about it, because, in the end, if you really compare the quality of a PSG – Arsenal final with one of Crystal – Rayo, the difference is not worth so many hundreds of millions. I would say even the latest has a big advantage of not adding 40 minutes of torment for the eyes of the fine football fan. It is just how it is…
Photo source: pixabay.com