Chants of “Sa-fo-nov” echoed through the Grands Boulevards as Gabriel slotted home the decisive penalty. Fireworks erupted prematurely after Gonçalo Ramos’ successful attempt, as if the crowd already sensed victory. Inside packed bars, only a fortunate few—typically towering over 1.80 meters—witnessed the triumph unfold on television screens, while the rest relied on the roar of the crowd following each penalty.

131 arrests, nearly four times fewer than last year

The revelry quickly turned chaotic when a Brazilian player’s miss triggered a surge of panic. Police in riot gear responded swiftly, dispersing the crowd with tear gas. The cat-and-mouse game between authorities and the estimated 20,000 revelers continued unabated, with the Paris police prefecture reporting 131 arrests and one officer injured by late evening. This marked a significant decrease compared to the 559 arrests recorded during the 2025 final against Inter Milan.

A seasoned CRS officer near Rue du Colisée commented, “There are fewer disturbances this time, yes. But this isn’t over—let’s see how things develop.”

A day of contrasts: celebration and tension

By the time the final whistle blew, Paris had already been buzzing for hours. Sweltering heat—peaking at 37°C—did little to dampen spirits. Benji, a lifelong supporter, reflected, “There was less stress this time. We’ve been through this before, a year ago.” The Champs-Élysées and Grands Boulevards became stages for both euphoria and defiance, with fireworks and firecrackers punctuating the air despite heavy police presence.

As the night wore on, the scent of tear gas lingered in the air along Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre. An elderly man, rubbing his irritated eyes, turned to his neighbor and remarked, “I’d say PSG won.” And indeed, they had.

Pre-match anticipation

Hours before kickoff, tens of thousands of supporters had already filled the city’s streets. Conversations everywhere revolved around the match, with some fans—like a group of retirees in Ivry—joking about the risks of ending up in custody: “I’ll watch the game at home. No way I’m ending up in jail for this!”