The tension was palpable as Paris Saint-Germain secured their Champions League title against Arsenal in Budapest this past Saturday, a match concluding 1-1 before a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout. Bradley Barcola, introduced into the fray in the 83rd minute, found himself with two golden opportunities to clinch victory for the capital club, potentially sparing everyone the nail-biting penalty decider.

The 23-year-old forward’s first chance came in the 85th minute, but Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya was quick off his line to thwart the effort. Then, deep into stoppage time (90+7), Barcola was played through behind the Gunners’ defense. After an unsteady dribble, his powerful strike from a tight angle unfortunately veered wide of the target, denying PSG an outright win in regulation time.

Ultimately, any lingering disappointment was quickly overshadowed as PSG triumphed, lifting the coveted ‘big-eared cup’ for the second consecutive year. Reflecting on his near-misses, Barcola took to his Instagram account later that evening, choosing to laugh off the high-pressure moments.

“Ma3lich, we won”

Accompanying a photograph depicting him alongside teammate Ousmane Dembélé, both proudly holding the trophy, the French international penned a candid caption. It read: “I should have killed the game, but ma3lich (meaning ‘it’s not a big deal’ or ‘never mind’ in Arabic), we won.”

Notably, Barcola did not participate in the penalty shootout. His contribution, though missing a decisive goal, was part of a collective effort that saw PSG prevail with only a single missed spot-kick, securing yet another prestigious European title for the club.