Long regarded as a lottery—or even a cruel way to decide football matches—penalty shootouts have become one of Paris Saint-Germain’s greatest strengths. That was evident once again as PSG secured the second UEFA Champions League title in the club’s history by overcoming Arsenal in a shootout, showing superior composure and mental resilience when it mattered most. The victory reinforces a growing trend: whenever a match goes the distance, Paris now looks like the team to beat.
PSG, a Team Built to Win Shootouts
The numbers speak for themselves. Over the past year, Paris Saint-Germain have developed an impressive habit of winning penalty shootouts. After knocking Liverpool out in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16, the French champions also lifted the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup against Flamengo, and the Trophée des Champions against Marseille—all after prevailing on penalties.
The Champions League final against Arsenal only strengthened that reputation. In a fiercely contested match, Luis Enrique‘s side once again displayed exceptional composure under pressure to claim a second European crown. Their latest triumph suggests that penalty shootouts are no longer a matter of luck for PSG, but the result of a process that has been carefully developed over time.
While many teams approach penalties with anxiety, Paris now seems to embrace them with confidence, preparation, and remarkable self-belief. The club’s mental and tactical work is clearly paying off.
Parisian goalkeepers decisive in the shootout
While PSG’s success relies on a solid collective, it is above all explained by the excellence of its goalkeepers. Last season, Gianluigi Donnarumma had already made a mark in the Champions League, making several crucial saves, notably against Liverpool.
This year, PSG can even boast two recognized specialists: Matvey Safonov and Lucas Chevalier.
Safonov, who arrived last year, is playing more this season following the departure of Italian goalkeeper Donnarumma. The Russian keeper impresses with exceptional consistency. On Matchday 20 of Ligue 1, he saved another penalty against Strasbourg, bringing his streak to five consecutive penalties stopped. A rare performance that makes Safonov one of the best European goalkeepers in this discipline this season. Speaking to Ligue 1+, Luis Enrique said:
Lucas Chevalier is no less impressive. The hero of the Super Cup victory over Tottenham, he displayed remarkable confidence at these key moments. After the match, he told Ligue 1+:
“I knew that if it went to penalties, I was going to stop them. I was too determined today to help the team and win this trophy.”
A statement that perfectly illustrates the Parisian mindset.
"Je savais que si on allait aux TAB j'allais les sortir, j'étais trop déterminé aujourd'hui pour faire gagner l'équipe" 💬
— L1+ (@ligue1plus) January 8, 2026
𝐿𝑒 𝑀𝑉𝑃 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓 😎 pic.twitter.com/eJFV3wGclQ
A New Trademark
With both Safonov and Lucas Chevalier, PSG now possess the rare luxury of having two goalkeepers capable of deciding the biggest matches from the penalty spot.
More importantly, the Champions League final victory over Arsenal confirmed a deeper transformation. Penalty shootouts are no longer a historical weakness for Paris Saint-Germain—they have become one of the club’s greatest strengths.
Whenever matches are decided from 12 yards, PSG now carry a level of confidence that very few clubs can match. In the space of just two seasons, the European champions have turned what was once considered a lottery into one of their defining qualities.
