‘Lee Kang-in on the bench’: PSG and Arsenal reveal Champions League final lineups… ‘First-ever Big Ear vs. two consecutive titles’
*This content was translated by AI.
Lee Kang-in is pictured holding the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League (UCL) trophy in his left hand. /Photo=Lee Kang-in’s personal social networking service (SNS) archive
Ahead of the Champions League final, the most prestigious stage in European football, both teams’ starting lineups were suddenly revealed. South Korean national team midfielder Lee Kang-in (24) will wait on the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) bench for a substitution.
PSG and Arsenal will face each other in the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final at Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary, at 1 a.m. (Korean time) on the 31st.
PSG will deploy a front three of Desire Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The midfield will consist of João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz. The back four will be formed by Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, and Achraf Hakimi. Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov will guard the goal.
Arsenal will start with Kai Havertz as the lone striker. The second line will feature Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Leandro Trossard. The midfield pairing will be Miles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice, while the defense will be anchored by Piero Incaupi, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, and Cristian Mosquera. David Raya will wear the goalkeeper gloves.
Arsenal’s starting lineup against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). /Photo=Arsenal’s official social networking service (SNS)
As the defending champion, PSG will attempt the unprecedented feat of consecutive Champions League titles, a first in French football history. PSG advanced to the final by sequentially defeating Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich in the tournament. Having scored an impressive 44 goals in the UCL this season alone, PSG aims to extend their scoring streak to 27 consecutive matches.
Moreover, if coach Enrique secures the title this time, he will join Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Bob Paisley, and Zinedine Zidane as only the fifth manager in history to lift the Big Ear trophy three or more times.
Facing them, Arsenal aims to break its long drought in European competitions. Having suffered a dramatic comeback defeat to Barcelona in the 2006 final in Paris, France, 20 years ago, Arsenal now targets its first-ever UCL trophy. Already crowned English Premier League (EPL) champions, a victory in this final would make Arsenal the fourth English club, after Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City, to achieve the historic league-UCL double.
*This content was translated by AI.
