Paris Saint-Germain’s bid for a first-ever UEFA Champions League title faces a significant test this week, and the warning signs are mounting.
Having narrowly survived a dramatic second-leg collapse against Aston Villa in the quarterfinals, PSG have stumbled alarmingly in the lead-up to their semifinal showdown with Arsenal.
Luis Enrique’s side appeared to be cruising into the last four after building a commanding 5-1 aggregate lead over Villa. Yet, in a collapse that highlighted the team's historic fragility in Europe, PSG conceded three second-leg goals and were forced to rely on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics to scrape through 5-4 on aggregate.
The near-disaster raised fresh concerns about PSG's mental toughness — concerns that have only deepened since.
Rather than steadying the ship domestically, PSG’s form has deteriorated further. A narrow 2-1 win over Le Havre provided little reassurance, and a 1-1 draw with mid-table Nantes was followed by a damaging 3-1 home defeat to Nice, the team's first Ligue 1 loss of the season.
The string of results has set alarm bells ringing just as PSG prepares for one of the most important matches in its history.
PSG's 30-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1 this season comes to an end after losing 3-1 to Nice.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 25, 2025
There has never been an unbeaten season in France's top flight pic.twitter.com/H1fSGecTgt
Momentum, once firmly in PSG's favor, has evaporated at precisely the wrong time. Enrique’s shift toward a younger, hungrier squad was designed to avoid the complacency that consumed previous PSG sides, but inexperience may now be showing when it matters most.
Meanwhile, Arsenal arrives in the semifinals looking increasingly formidable. The Gunners eliminated tournament favorites Real Madrid and are riding a 12-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
While a late goal saw it drop points at home to Crystal Palace in its last outing, Mikel Arteta's side has consistently combined defensive resilience with attacking flair — traits that could expose PSG’s mounting vulnerabilities.
For Paris, the concern is no longer just dropped points, it’s the erosion of confidence. A side built around young talents like Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia must now prove it can withstand the pressure of a high-stakes Champions League semifinal against one of Europe’s most in-form teams.
Of course, PSG’s quality remains undeniable. Players like Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, who have contributed 27 and 23 goals and assists respectively this season, are capable of deciding matches single-handedly.
Yet the psychological edge, which is vital at this stage of the competition, appears to lie firmly with Arsenal. Unless PSG can quickly rediscover its composure and resilience, another shot at European glory could slip away once again.
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