By Adedapo Adesanya

French football powerhouse, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), denied Premier League champions Arsenal a first Champions League triumph in a penalty shootout to win the competition for a second successive year.

PSG, coached by Spaniard Luis Enrique, denied Mikel Arteta’s side a league and European double in the final of the tournament held in the Puskas Arena in the Hungarian capital of Budapest on Saturday night.

The Gunners, who lifted the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years last weekend, made a dream start to the final when Kai Havertz, who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final for Chelsea against Manchester City in 2021, burst away from the PSG backline and rifled the ball into the roof of the net after only six minutes.

However, the Arsenal team looked set to sit back and prevent the French champions from putting the ball in the back of the net for the majority of the game.

This worked until a clumsy Mosquera tackle on PSG’s pacy winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia led to a penalty which Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele slotted home in the 65th minute to level the game.

Arsenal were forced to defend inside their own half for most of the game as PSG enjoyed 75 per cent of possession and the French side almost won it in normal time with Kvaratskhelia hitting the post and Vitinha going close from the edge of the area.

Arsenal’s possession average (24.7 per cent) was the lowest by a team in a Champions League final (since Opta first recorded the stat in 2003-04), as well as their lowest in any match under Arteta, where they had 11 men on the pitch throughout.

After 90 minutes of play, the game went into extra time, in which Arsenal clamoured for a penalty shout when substitute Noni Madueke tangled with Nuno Mendes, but referee Daniel Siebert waved away protests that led to both Declan Rice and the Arsenal manager being booked.

After an extremely tense extra time, it was down to penalties. Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze was the first to miss, but parity was restored after David Raya saved from Nuno Mendes, but it was not enough. It was centre-back Gabriel who missed the decisive penalty as PSG won the shootout 4-3 to retain the Champions League title.

By Dipo Olowookere

Mr Arne Slot has left his role as the Head Coach of Liverpool Football Club a year after guiding the Reds to their 20th English Premier League title.

The Dutch arrived at Merseyside in June 2024 and won the league for the northern England football outfit in the 2024/2025 season.

However, in the just-ended 2025/2026 season, he struggled to perform, leaving the club fifth on the table, with just 60 points in 38 games, winning only one in their last five matches, with two draws and two losses.

In a statement on Saturday, the club confirmed that Mr Slot, who was the LMA Manager of the Year in his debut season at the club, is leaving “his role as head coach with immediate effect.”

He was thanked for his time at the club during his two-year stay, as well as “the leadership” he displayed, but he had to go as “the process to appoint a successor is underway.”

“That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful.

“As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.

“From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, but embraces it. This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title, and throughout the season just ended, when he faced considerable challenges and burdens.

“At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.

“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title.

“That accomplishment – made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge – was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day.

“He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person.

“As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful. We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come.

“Nevertheless, the conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.

“Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield,” the statement said.

There are speculations that the immediate past manager of Bournemouth, Mr Andoni Iraola, is likely to be named as the new coach of Liverpool FC.

The UEFA Champions League final, FIFA World Cup warm-up matches and the latest action from Roland Garros are among the major sporting attractions lined up on SuperSport over the coming days.

The weekend’s headline event is Saturday’s Champions League final in Budapest, where newly crowned Premier League champions Arsenal take on defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in one of the most anticipated matches of the season.

From football to tennis, fans can look forward to a packed schedule as several competitions approach their defining moments.

European Football Takes Centre Stage

The spotlight this weekend falls on Budapest, where Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain meet in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday.

The match pits two domestic champions against each other, with Arsenal seeking the first Champions League title in the club’s history after ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League crown. Victory would also complete a remarkable league and European double for Mikel Arteta’s side.

PSG, meanwhile, are aiming to retain the trophy they won last season under Luis Enrique and become the first club since Real Madrid’s famous three-peat between 2016 and 2018 to successfully defend the title.

The final also presents several intriguing storylines. Arteta and Enrique become the first managers from the same country to face each other in a Champions League final while leading foreign clubs, while Arsenal’s Declan Rice and PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the stars expected to play key roles in the contest.

The UEFA Champions League final kicks off at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, with live studio build-up beginning at 3:30 p.m. As part of the ongoing Open View period, the match will air to DStv Yanga customers on SS Football Finals (DStv Ch. 202) and SS Football (DStv Ch. 205), while GOtv Jolli customers can catch the match live on SS Football (GOtv Ch. 61).

The Road to the FIFA World Cup

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now just days away, several of the tournament’s contenders will fine-tune preparations through a series of international friendlies live on SuperSport.

The action begins on Sunday, 31 May, with Switzerland facing Jordan at 1:45 p.m., before Germany take on Finland at 7:30 p.m.

Monday brings a Scandinavian derby between Norway and Sweden at 5:45 p.m., while Austria face Tunisia at 7:30 p.m.

The fixtures continue throughout the week with Croatia against Belgium on Tuesday, the Netherlands versus Algeria on Wednesday, and Spain meeting Iraq on Thursday.

Next weekend’s highlights include Portugal against Chile, England facing New Zealand, and Croatia taking on Slovenia, as some of the world’s leading nations complete preparations for football’s biggest stage.

DStv will provide dedicated SuperSport FIFA World Cup channels, ensuring you can follow every match live or on demand. During the tournament, popular sports channels will transform into dedicated World Cup hubs:

SS Football Plus Africa → FIFA World Cup Central: Primary English match hub

SS EPL Africa → FIFA World Cup Extra: Secondary hub for concurrent matches

SS Football → FIFA World Cup Pass: 24/7 channel featuring documentaries and replays

Roland Garros Heats Up

Meanwhile, the clay-court battles at Roland Garros continue to gather momentum as the tournament moves towards its decisive stages.

With two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined through injury, world number one Jannik Sinner enters as the leading contender in the men’s draw, although Novak Djokovic remains a major threat.

In the women’s competition, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are among the favourites seeking to dethrone reigning champion Coco Gauff in what promises to be another compelling week of Grand Slam tennis.

Follow All the Action

As part of the Canal+ family, SuperSport continues to deliver world-class football coverage throughout the season, from domestic cup finals and title races to major international tournaments like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Fans can watch live on DStv and GOtv or stream via DStv Stream and GOtv Stream. Manage subscriptions through the MyDStv and MyGOtv apps, visit DStv or GOtv Africa, or dial *288# to stay connected.