Khaberni - Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov has become the first Russian player to reach the UEFA Champions League final two times in a row, following Paris Saint-Germain's qualification to the 2026 final.
The Parisian club clinched their final spot after a thrilling 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich in the second leg of the semifinals, benefiting from their 5-4 first-leg win to secure qualification with a 6-5 aggregate score.
Safonov started in the second-leg match and delivered a noticeable performance by saving five certain goals, continuing to cement his place within the French team during one of the most crucial stages of the European season.
The Russian goalkeeper also reached the Champions League final last season with Paris Saint-Germain, when the French club won the title for the first time in its history after thrashing Inter Milan with a 5-0 score.
Despite sitting on the bench during that final match, Safonov became the fifth Russian player to win the Champions League title, joining a list that included: Igor Dobrovolski, Vladimir Pot, Dmitry Alenichev, Denis Cheryshev.
Paris Saint-Germain will face Arsenal in the final of the tournament on May 30th in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, in a match where the French giant aims to retain its European title.
