Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the stunning city of Budapest. Best of all, I attended the most significant event in this season's club football – the UEFA Champions League Final, featuring France's Paris Saint Germain and England's Arsenal. Oppo, an official global partner of UEFA, graciously provided me with a ticket for the match, prompting me to test the Find X9 Ultra's camera and the teleconverter from its Earth Explorer Kit during my travels.
Do not expect an extensive analysis of image quality here; my colleagues have already reviewed the camera's performance, which you can find here. Instead, if you wish to see some beautiful images from the game and the picturesque Hungarian capital, read on. All images were captured directly from the phone in default JPG format, with no post-processing applied.
Before the match, I took some time to explore Budapest's historic sights, starting with Fisherman's Bastion. Perched on a hilltop near Buda Castle, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers stunning views of the city.
Next, I visited St. Stephen's Basilica, the largest church in Budapest, adorned with lavish decorations. Its interior is magnificent yet dimly lit, making it an excellent testing ground for the Find X9 Ultra.
During a break, I attended a 5v5 exhibition match featuring legendary footballers Claude Makelele and Arsenal star Theo Walcott. This event was part of the Champions Festival, organized by UEFA in the host city each year, where fans from around the world gather to enjoy various football-themed experiences as a prelude to the main event.
My next stop was Liberty Bridge, known for its Art Nouveau design and iconic yellow trams, which provided some fantastic photo opportunities.
Finally, we took a cruise along the Danube River, offering spectacular views of the Parliament Building, enhanced by dramatic lighting.
On the second day, it was finally time to head to Puskas Arena for the match. The 300mm teleconverter proved invaluable, as I used it for most of my photos and videos.
The pre-game festivities kicked off with a performance by The Killers, followed by both teams walking onto the pitch.
In the sixth minute, Arsenal's Kai Havertz scored the game's opening goal. PSG attempted to respond, but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities.
Kai Havertz gave Arsenal the lead
Moments from the first half
The French team was denied a penalty after Bukayo Saka's hand inadvertently touched the ball during a clearance attempt, as referees deemed it unintentional.
The second half followed a similar pattern until Cristhian Mosquera fouled Khvicha Kvaratshkelia in the penalty area, leading to a penalty awarded to PSG. Ousmane Dembele scored the equalizer, shifting the momentum, but Arsenal's defense remained resilient.
Dembele sent Raya the wrong way and equalized from the spot
Although the action was mostly in Arsenal’s half, the Gunners displayed remarkable defensive skills, limiting the French team's scoring chances.
The match proceeded to penalties, where a spectacular save by Arsenal keeper Raya offset Eze's missed attempt. Ultimately, Gabriel's penalty sealed Arsenal's fate as he shot high over the goal, keeping the trophy in Paris for another year.
The penalty shootout and award ceremony
What do you think of these shots? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
