PARIS Saint-Germain’s shortcomings in the Champions League have been a continuous stick to beat them with throughout the last decade. The furthest that the French side has progressed in the competition is finishing as beaten finalists in 2019-20 to Bayern Munich.Yet, there’s a growing sense of optimism in the French capital surrounding the Parisians’ chances in this season’s edition. Luis Enrique’s side have been in scintillating form this term, and put on a terrific display to edge out Liverpool via a penalty shootout win in the last 16 of the Champions League last time out. They’ve also been foot-perfect domestically – currently sitting unbeaten at the top of the Ligue 1 table after 27 games (W22 D5).
Indeed, they’re just the third side to go the first 27 games of a Ligue 1 season unbeaten, after Nantes in 1994-95 (lost in 33rd game) & PSG themselves in 2015-16 (lost in 28th). And the Parisians’ full attention may very soon be firmly fixed on the Champions League. Paris SG will become Ligue 1 champions for the 13th time should they avoid defeat to Angers this weekend (or if Monaco don’t win at Brest), which may prove to be plain sailing – they have won each of their last 15 games against Angers in Ligue 1, the longest winning streak by one team against another in the competition’s history.Enrique’s charges have accumulated an eye-watering tally of 71 points, while only two teams have ever had more points at this stage of a Ligue 1 season – PSG in both 2015-16 (73) and in 2018-19 (74). With the league all-but wrapped up, coupled with reaching their first Coupe de France final since 2021, focus has shifted to the latter stages of the Champions League. The Parisians have been drawn against former manager Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the quarter-finals – a very first meeting between the two sides in European competition. In fact, this is just the second UEFA Champions League quarter-final between French and English sides in the last eight campaigns (Manchester City 1-3 Lyon in the only leg in 2019-20).
Although English opposition is no new test for PSG. Aston Villa will be the fourth different English team that they have faced in the UEFA Champions League this season (also Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool). This is the joint-most opponents from one nation that a team have played against in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign, along with Leeds United in 2000-01 (four Spanish sides) and Real Madrid in 2023-24 (four German sides).The Opta supercomputer gives Enrique’s side a 73% chance of advancing past Aston Villa and reaching the final four for a second consecutive season, which would be as many times as in their previous 14 campaigns in the competition. And PSG will be hoping that the tide is turning in their recent match-ups against English opposition after eliminating Liverpool, having exited the competition in each of their previous three knockout stage meetings with English sides (v Man City in 2015-16 and 2020-21, and Man Utd in 2018-19).
There has been a clear alteration in identity at the Parc des Princes, with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi publicly speaking about the end of ‘the flashy-bling-bling’ era in Paris. The Parisians have the fifth-youngest starting XI on average in the Champions League this season (24y 242d) and the youngest of any team remaining in the 2024-25 tournament. The French side has the second-highest chance of winning the competition this season (19%), behind only Barcelona (24%).
Additionally, they are 10/3 second favourites to be outright winners with Unibet. However, they must overcome European competition specialist Emery in the next round, with the first leg at the Parc des Princes looming. The French outfit has lost just one of their last four home UEFA Champions League matches against English opponents (W2 D1). It may end the bling-bling era at PSG, but they hope it will help them lift that elusive European silverware.
Please remember to gamble responsibly. Visit our Safer Gambling section for more information, help and advice.
