LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Arsenal FC and FC Kairat Almaty at Arsenal Stadium on January 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Arsenal FC and FC Kairat Almaty at Arsenal Stadium on January 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Italy international Riccardo Calafiori is expected to start in Saturday evening’s Champions League final between reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and recently-crowned Premier League winners Arsenal in Budapest.
PSG will be hoping to defend their title, which they won in a 5-0 hammering of Inter last year, against the North London outfit of Arsenal, who are hoping to claim Europe’s most prestigious trophy for the very first time.
Despite PSG’s status as reigning champions, it was Arsenal who finished the league phase at the top of the table with a perfect record of eight victories from eight matches. From there, Mikel Arteta’s side went on to defeat Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, Sporting CP in the quarter-finals and Atletico Madrid in the semis.
PSG, meanwhile, have beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich across the knock-out rounds in order to qualify for tonight’s final.
Pre-match reports indicate that Italy’s Calafiori will start at left-back for Arsenal in Budapest for Saturday’s Champions League final. He is expected to be joined by Jurrien TImber, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes across the Gunners’ back four.
This is Calafiori’s first appearance in a Champions League final and he is the only Italian with any chance of being involved on the night.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal which was later ruled out for offside during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on May 02, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal which was later ruled out for offside during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on May 02, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The PSG squad featured several faces that will be familiar to Serie A supporters: From former Inter wing-back Achraf Hakimi to ex-Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and not forgetting Marquinhos and Fabian Ruiz.
Kick-off is due at 17.00 BST.
Champions League final: PSG vs. Arsenal probable line-ups
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Declan Rice after scoring a goal which was later ruled out for offside during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on May 02, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Riccardo Calafiori celebrates with teammate Declan Rice after scoring a goal which was later ruled out for offside during the Premier League match against Fulham at Emirates Stadium on May 02, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
**PSG (4-3-3):**Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, N.Mendes; J.Neves, Vitinha, F.Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
**Arsenal (4-2-3-1):**Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Gyokeres.
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