The match at Parc des Princes turned out to be one-sided.
In the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, PSG convincingly defeated Liverpool, fully deserving the victory even if the score didn’t capture the numerous opportunities carved out by the home side.
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There was an electrifying atmosphere at Parc des Princes, fueled by an impressive tifo featuring a massive red-and-blue Hulk ripping apart the Liverpool logo, energizing the crowd from the very start. On the field, PSG took control early: in the 11th minute, Désiré Doué scored with a deflected shot that caught Giorgi Mamardashvili by surprise, followed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubling the lead in the 65th minute with a brilliant solo run down the left flank.
PSG delivered a dominant performance and could have scored more: Ousmane Dembélé squandered several excellent chances, while Mamardashvili made key saves to prevent an even wider margin. There was also a penalty initially awarded to PSG for a challenge by Ibrahima Konaté on Warren Zaïre-Emery, which was later reversed by VAR.
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Liverpool struggled to create genuine threats and were outplayed throughout, leading to questions regarding coach Arne Slot’s decision to keep Mohamed Salah on the bench for the full game—a choice that sparked considerable discussion. The second leg will take place in Liverpool on Tuesday, April 14, to determine which team advances to the semi-finals.
🔚 PSG vs Liverpool 2-0, second leg at Anfield in six days
😲 Slot opts for four forwards but leaves Salah on the bench: no minutes for him
Pressure mounts on Slot as criticism intensifies for not utilizing Salah: a decision that raises eyebrows given the need for his technical prowess against such a well-structured opponent.
❌ VAR overturns PSG penalty decision
72ND MINUTE – A penalty is initially granted to PSG due to a challenge by Ibrahima Konaté on Warren Zaïre-Emery, who was on the attack. VAR, however, called the referee to review the play and overturned the ruling—confirming that there was only a slight touch on the ball.
⚽ Kvara in MONSTER mode: dribbling past defenders like cones and scoring!
65TH MINUTE – PSG adds to their tally, a goal that is well-deserved after a move that involved a remarkable 27 passes.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia displayed his talent on the left, deftly maneuvering past defenders and leaving Gomez and Gravenberch in his wake. He skillfully rounded Mamardashvili and tapped the ball into the net. Liverpool’s defense was severely exposed, allowing such a lethal player far too much room.
RANDOM STATS: Kvaratskhelia scored his eighth goal in this UEFA Champions League season, leading all PSG players in the competition.
RANDOM STATS: Kvaratskhelia made history as the first player to score in four consecutive Champions League matches for PSG. The last player to achieve this in the knockout stages was Benzema in 2022, the year he captured the Ballon d’Or.
😱 Dembélé’s shocking misses: penalty sails into the stands!
53RD AND 87TH MINUTES – Ousmane Dembélé had an off night.
Receiving the ball in the box after Nuno Mendes’s incisive play on the left, Dembélé, alongside Kvaratskhelia in the buildup, missed a golden opportunity by firing high over the bar. Moments before his substitution, he struck the post from a tight angle with a powerful shot.
👍 Mamardashvili shines with two key saves, denying PSG a third goal
Giorgi Mamardashvili’s performance was noteworthy; first, he made a fantastic save from Kvaratskhelia’s right-footed volley, then he thwarted Désiré Doué’s close-range shot with another outstanding stop. These crucial saves kept Liverpool in the game.
⚽ Doué OPENS the scoring with a deflected shot that confuses Mamardashvili
11TH MINUTE – The match is opened by Désiré Doué, who finds the back of the net.
The young talent from Paris created space for himself near the edge of the area and unleashed a shot from the right corner of the box. A deflection from Gravenberch altered the trajectory of the shot, wrong-footing Mamardashvili and allowing it to loop over him and into the net. There was a sense that the goalkeeper should have handled it better, as the shot was not particularly swift.
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RANDOM STATS: With this goal, Doué has now scored seven times in Champions League knockout rounds: before turning 21, only Kylian Mbappé had achieved this.
RANDOM STATS: At 20 years and 309 days, Doué becomes the sixth-youngest player to reach 10 Champions League goals, trailing only Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Karim Benzema.
😱 AMAZING fan displays: Hulk demolishes Liverpool logo
Paris fans are known for their spectacular displays, and tonight’s event certainly ranks among the finest.
“Tonight, let the Hulk within you awaken” proclaimed a banner beneath a massive red and blue Hulk figure ripping apart the Liverpool logo. On the opposite side, there appeared to be a representation of transformation.
🔥 Incredible welcome and atmosphere in Paris!
✅ The OFFICIAL lineups
PSG (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, João Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, D. Doué. Coach: Luis Enrique
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Injured: F. Ruiz, Barcola.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konaté, Gomez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Frimpong; Ekitiké. Coach: Slot.
Injured: Alisson, Leoni, Bradley, Endo.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. Read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
