PSG beat Liverpool on penalties on Tuesday, March 11, at Anfield in their Round of 16 tie of the UEFA Champions League to qualify for the last eight.
Liverpool had won the first leg 1-0 despite being totally dominated in Paris.
However, Luis Enrique’s Paris-Saint-Germain made amends by beating the Reds 1-0 in the return leg, with Ousmane Dembele scoring the goal.
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics then helped them win the penalty shootout and go through.
Paris Saint-Germain Have an Array of Quality Wingers
In Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG have a couple of high-quality wingers, who have tested Liverpool’s defence seriously over the course of two legs.
They have forced Alisson Becker to make quality saves one after another, especially in the first leg.
Kvaratskhelia has given Trent Alexander-Arnold some torrid time and Dembele has often made Andy Robertson’s life difficult.
Their ability to cut in and take shots at the goal in quick time has made them a handful for the Liverpool defenders.
Moreover, the quality midfield three of PSG containing Vitinha, João Neves and Fabian Ruiz has given Liverpool’s midfield some testing time, too.
The French team has shown little regard to the hostile atmosphere at Anfield to take the attack to the mighty Reds and then win the second leg and the tie.
Arne Slot’s men have not faced wingers of the same quality in the Premier League so far.
Savinho is still a rookie and Jérémy Doku has often been injured for Manchester City. Bukayo Saka has been injured since December and Gabriel Martinelli has had a below-par season at Arsenal.
Moreover, aside from Pedro Neto to an extent, none of the plethora of options Chelsea have on the flanks, has performed well.
Hence, the test against Enrique’s men was a bit too much for them. Had it not been for Alisson, they would have probably lost in the first leg by a considerable margin.
The Brazilian goalie came to the rescue often in the second leg, too, but could not save Liverpool from defeat ultimately.
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The Parisians Are Still Searching for Their First Champions League Title
The French side has come close though, reaching the final and losing narrowly to Bayern Munich in 2020.
They might have a serious chance of winning the title this year, too, given the obvious quality in their squad.
Kvaratskhelia and Dembele will continue to be key components in their title-challenge this year.
Dembele came close to Champions League glory while being at Barcelona and his current manager at PSG has won the title with the Catalan club in 2015.
Kvaratskhelia, meanwhile, has a long career in front of him, but it would not hurt to win a big title this early in his career. PSG still have some way to go and will face Aston Villa in the last eight.
The French team will fancy their chances of going through to the last four and it is anybody’s game after that.
Knocking Liverpool out has made them one of the favorites to win the tournament now.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Propaganda Photo
Recording Date: 11.03.2025