PSG surpassed Liverpool on Wednesday in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League. Doué and Kvaratskhelia scored the winning goals. It remains to be confirmed at Anfield next Tuesday.

Published on: 04/08/2026 - 10:52 p.m. Modified on: 04/09/2026 - 03:34

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We are far from last year's scenario. Paris dominated Liverpool without trembling 2-0 in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League on Wednesday April 8 at the Parc des Princes.

Qualification is not a given, especially since the "Reds" will be avenging Tuesday in their den after their elimination on penalties against PSG last season in the round of 16. But the appearance of Wednesday's match suggests that Paris has all the cards in hand to ensure the essentials. Because the team coached by Luis Enrique crushed Liverpuldiens reduced most of the time to chasing the ball and sometimes trying to break through on the counter-attack.

The Parisian passing circuits were so precise and inspired that they made Arne Slot's men dizzy, who on their few opportunities to restart often panicked, seeing the closest opponent pounce on him.

Apart from a small physical scare for Nuno Mendes, also guilty of some blunders, the Parisians recalled through their running, dribbling and passing the level produced during the spring of 2025, which led to the continental title.

The goal by Désiré Doué, who after dribbling went in the direction of the goal before taking advantage, on his shot, of a deflection by Ryan Gravencherch (11th), was a little lucky but also implacably logical given the balance of power.

And it came close for the man of the match in the 2025 final to hit the nail on the head himself, served by Nuno Mendes before coming up against Giorgi Mamardashvili, replacing the injured Alisson Becker.

A supersonic ball release from PSG, based on dips and chest checks, also almost led to a 2-0, but Ousmane Dembélé hit too softly, causing prodigious disappointment from the public (42nd). Even greater disappointment on his shot that went to the stars (53rd), while the Ballon d'Or was served perfectly from six meters away. Dembélé will finally hit the post, just before going out (87th).

The Parc des Princes nevertheless experienced one of its most beautiful evenings, euphoric to find the team it loved so much last season, after a few months of bad luck.

Especially since Liverpool proved after the break that they were capable of much better than their pitiful defeat on Saturday against Manchester City (4-0) in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, increasing the intensity in the duels and in midfield.

Salah on the bench

But the best midfielder was that of PSG, as was again proven by a laser pass from Joao Neves, who broke several lines to find Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in depth. The Georgian, already the scorer of three goals in the round of 16, played with the Reds' defense and goalkeeper to make the break (2-0, 65th).

In the process, Paris thought to extinguish all suspense with a view to the return at the end of another high-class action, with multiple relays at full speed before Warren Zaire-Emery found himself in an ideal position to shoot (70th). But Ibrahima Konaté's tackle, initially penalized with a penalty, was narrowly revealed to be exceptional on video assistance. PSG will also not have to regret, at the end of the double confrontation, another failure from Nuno Mendes, who only had to convert a new collective demonstration at close range but preferred to miss his control (90th).

At the other end of the field, the Parisian defense prevented any action from the Reds from prospering, despite a very willing Hugo Ekitike for his return to his former club, but often chased closely by Willian Pacho, who had become imperial again. And Nuno Mendes this time did not have to manage Mohamed Salah, left on the bench throughout the meeting, for what looked like the twilight of the Pharaoh.

With AFP

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