The European Club Championships – Champions League 2025 delivered exactly what everyone had hoped for: a blockbuster final between two of Europe’s most powerful judo clubs, Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Red Star Belgrade (SRB).
Inside a packed and pulsating Aleksandar Nikolić Hall, Red Star fans were in full voice, ready to fuel their team in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2024 final. The stage was set. The tension was electric. The final was ready to explode into action, Serbian style.
Majdov Strikes First
The honour of opening the showdown fell to Nemanja Majdov, competing in the -90kg category against current European champion, Christian Parlati. The home crowd barely had time to settle before Majdov sent them into raptures. After just 43 seconds, he secured victory with a clinical osae-komi-waza, putting Red Star 1-0 ahead and igniting the arena.
Dicko Levels the Score
Next up in the +70kg category: Romane Dicko vs Milica Zabic. With PSG trailing, the pressure was immense. Inspired by Majdov’s early heroics, Zabic charged forward fearlessly against the double Olympic medallist but class told. At 2:47, Dicko unleashed a powerful o-soto-gari, scoring ippon and restoring balance at 1-1.
Rakhimov’s Ne-waza Skills
The +90kg contest featured two international stars: Alisher Yusupov for PSG and Temur Rakhimov for Red Star. It was tense, tactical and very calculated.
Rakhimov narrowly escaped a dangerous hold-down early on and the pair battled their way into golden score. The powerhouse from Tajikistan kept piling on the pressure in ne-waza and at 3:18 into extra time, he finally broke through with a decisive juji-gatame, making it 2-1 to Red Star. The hall erupted.
Mokdar Brings PSG Back
In the -57kg division, Faiza Mokdar faced Marica Perisic. At 1:33, Mokdar launched a perfectly timed sumi-gaeshi for waza-ari and with renewed confidence, transitioned into osae-komi, levelling the team score at 2-2. PSG were right back in it.
Gaba Turns the Tide
The -73kg match-up saw Joan-Benjamin Gaba (PSG) face Strahinja Buncic (Red Star). Buncic came close early on with a slick ashi-waza but missed the score. At 1:24, Gaba struck with a sharp seoi-nage to claim yuko, immediately switching into groundwork. The referee called osae-komi and in moments the contest was over. PSG surged ahead 3-2. Suddenly, the title was within reach.
Gahie Seals the Championship
The pressure was enormous as Marie-Ève Gahié (PSG) stepped onto the tatami against Ozbas Szofi (Red Star) in the -70kg bout. Was this the final contest? Would Red Star force a draw? The crowd was deafening.
Gahié, however, looked a step ahead throughout. Attacks flowed, uchi-mata, harai-goshi, wave after wave. When the fight moved to the ground, she locked in the hold. Twenty seconds later, it was done. PSG retained their Champions League title. Final score: 4-2 to PSG.
Joan-Benjamin Gaba:
“We are very happy to win this title with Paris Saint-Germain for the second year in a row. It’s my first time, and a pleasure to share it with this magnificent team.”
Romane Dicko:
“The crowd in Serbia was on fire. Next year in France will be even better we can’t wait to defend the title on home soil.”
Christian Parlati:
“It was a privilege to fight for this team. They are incredible and I am very happy to be part of it.”
Team Red Star also reflected emotionally on competing in front of their home crowd:
Marica Perišić:
“It is not the perfect ending but I am proud we reached the final and proved we are still at world level. We are proud of the whole team. The atmosphere was incredible. How would I describe it? Simply amazing.”
Nemanja Majdov:
“I felt blessed all day. The atmosphere was unbelievable. Thank you, Belgrade, for coming, this was one of the best environments I have ever fought in. To open the final against Parlati, a great champion and a great friend and to finish the contest with my first attack, in front of this crowd, it was crazy. One of the best moments of my life. Congratulations to everyone and thank you.”
In 2026, the Champions League show moves to France and even with a year to go, excitement is already building. There is something uniquely powerful about team judo: clubs united, international stars joining forces, athletes fighting with pure love for their sport. It is emotional. It is electric. It is priceless.
France get ready. The Champions League is coming home.
Images: EJU/ Gabi Juan & Carlos Ferreira
Author: Szandra Szogedi