Despite the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal taking place this Saturday afternoon in Budapest, Hungary, a vibrant crowd of supporters is converging on Parc des Princes, where the highly anticipated match will be broadcast live. The excitement is palpable.

By 2 p.m., the area around Porte de Saint-Cloud, adjacent to Parc des Princes – the designated fan zone for the UEFA Champions League final broadcast between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal this Sunday at 6 p.m. – had already transformed into an open-air ‘kop’. Thousands of enthusiastic Parisian supporters gathered by the fountain, with many even dipping their feet into the water, cleverly seeking relief from the scorching sun while simultaneously amplifying the vibrant atmosphere.

Chanting the club’s most popular anthems, with a distinct preference for the now iconic « après tant d’années… » (after so many years…), and igniting a continuous stream of flares, the fans proudly displayed two main slogans: « On veut la deuxième » (We want the second one) and « Dembélé Ballon d’Or ». The diverse crowd, largely young, hailed not only from Paris and its suburbs but also from much further afield, including four Brazilians sporting yellow jerseys, all drawn by the prospect of reliving last year’s monumental celebration. Their collective spirit was both fervent and good-natured.

Just four hours before kick-off, a relaxed mood prevailed, with some supporters even sharing lighthearted banter with the numerous CRS police officers deployed around the iconic Parc des Princes stadium.