PSG Achieves Feat Only Real Madrid Had Managed Before

Paris Saint-Germain has triumphed in the Champions League for the second consecutive year. The Parisians brought Arsenal to tears after a penalty shootout, successfully defending their title in Europe's most prestigious club tournament.

PSG is only the second team in history to lift the Champions League trophy in two consecutive years. Before the French giants, only Real Madrid achieved this feat, confirming their dominance in 2017 and then securing a third consecutive title in 2018. Interestingly, there was a French connection even then, with Zinedine Zidane at the helm of the Madrid side.

Prior to this, in the 1990s, Juventus and AC Milan both featured in three consecutive finals. The 'Bianconeri' won the trophy on their first attempt but subsequently lost to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. Milan, on the other hand, won the Champions League on their second attempt, after a defeat to Marseille in 1993, but also failed to retain the title.

In the era of the European Cup, there are five similar instances. Benfica became the first team to defend their title in 1962, but never won another European trophy thereafter, losing eight finals. In the 1960s, Helenio Herrera's Inter Milan instilled fear in their opponents with their 'catenaccio' style.

Liverpool became the first English club to defend their European Cup title in 1978. Nottingham Forest sensationally won the English league in 1978 in their first season back in the top flight, and then went on to claim two consecutive European Cups. In the late 80s, Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan triumphed twice in a row, shortly before the tournament was rebranded.