New-look PSG shows it belongs among Europe’s elite

On Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain stamped its authority on the European stage with a thrilling penalty shootout victory at Anfield, eliminating Liverpool from the Champions League. In doing so, PSG became the first team to knock Liverpool out of a European tie after The Reds had won the first leg away from home.

The French giants entered the second leg trailing 1-0 on aggregate, but Ousmane Dembele’s early strike quickly restored parity. From that moment, the match became an end-to-end spectacle, with both sides pressing for a decisive goal. Liverpool had its chances—Mohamed Salah squandered key opportunities, Dominik Szoboszlai had a goal disallowed, and Jarell Quansah rattled the woodwork—but PSG’s resilience held firm.

When the match went to penalties, Gianluigi Donnarumma delivered a goalkeeping clinic. The Italian shot-stopper denied Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones from the spot, sealing PSG’s 4-1 shootout victory. With this triumph, it advances to the quarter-finals, where it will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge, with the English side holding a commanding 3-1 lead ahead of Wednesday’s return leg.

"It was the best game of football I was ever involved in. I don't have the history of Liverpool as a manager. Two teams at an incredible level,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said postgame, via Sky Sports. "Of course, it is a shock. If you have to go out, then go out how we did against one of the best teams in Europe and making a fight of it."

Luis Enrique’s PSG were deserved winners, showcasing lightning-fast counter-attacks and precise execution. For a club that has long faced ridicule for faltering on the biggest stage, there is now a growing sense that it is heading in the right direction.

With the failed Galactico-era of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi in the past, PSG have embraced a youth-driven approach. Dembele leads the team with 20 Ligue 1 goals, while 22-year-old Bradley Barcola follows with 13, along with seven assists. The January acquisition of 24-year-old Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for €80 million ($87 million) has further strengthened its attacking arsenal.

In midfield, 20-year-old Joao Neves has quickly become a focal point since his big-money arrival from Benfica last August, registering eight league assists. Meanwhile, teenage prospects Desire Doue and Warren Zaire-Emery represent the next wave of talent breaking through at the Parc des Princes.

There has been a clear shift in strategy at PSG. Rather than chasing marquee names, the club is prioritizing young talent that can develop and grow together. Enrique has embraced this shift, offloading high-profile players who did not fit the system. Many viewed this transition as a long-term play that could come at the cost of immediate success, but the victory over Liverpool suggests otherwise.

This momentous win is proof that PSG’s new approach is paying dividends, and European glory may not be as far away as many once believed.