LIVERPOOL, England — The grip of Paris Saint-Germain on the Champions League trophy remains unyielding.
The reigning champions progressed to the semifinals of Europe’s top club competition by eliminating six-time winners Liverpool on Tuesday.
A 2-0 victory at Anfield sealed a 4-0 aggregate win, propelling PSG closer to becoming just the second team in modern history to defend the trophy, following the legendary Real Madrid.
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“Defending the Champions League is challenging, as we know,” coach Luis Enrique commented. “We’re back here, and we must seize these opportunities.”
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé netted two second-half goals, extinguishing Liverpool’s chances and securing a semifinal showdown against either Bayern Munich or Madrid.
By extending their unbeaten streak in the knockout stages to nine matches, PSG made history as the first French club to reach the Champions League semifinals three years in a row.
It takes something extraordinary to retain the Champions League title, and PSG is undeniably an exceptional team. While Madrid achieved a hat trick of titles from 2016-18, no club has secured back-to-back victories since the European Cup was rebranded in 1992.
PSG aims to make history after clinching their inaugural European title last year. This marks the second consecutive season that the French powerhouses have eliminated Liverpool, who sought another remarkable Champions League comeback and put PSG under pressure at various points.
“It’s incredibly gratifying for me to witness my team’s capability to perform at this level against any opponent,” said Luis Enrique, a two-time Champions League-winning coach with Barcelona as well.
“This showcases the caliber of our team and the confidence we possess. It’s fantastic to share this experience with such a remarkable squad.”
Dembélé’s first goal shattered Liverpool’s hopes, a left-footed shot from the edge of the area in the 72nd minute. His second followed a sweeping team play in stoppage time.
“We’re thrilled to have won this match because it was immensely challenging, especially the second half,” Dembélé said. “But we found a way to succeed; we’re through to the semifinals, and we’re elated.”
Dembélé had previously squandered opportunities in the first leg and missed two more chances in the first half at Anfield that could have put PSG in a stronger position.
However, his opening goal was executed with exactness, finding the bottom corner, while his second was a sharp finish from close range.
“He’s a remarkable player. A world-class talent,” said Luis Enrique of his forward. “He doesn’t always need to score. We recognize his capabilities. He contributes defensively as well, particularly in the second half, embodying what teamwork is about.”
“I’m very pleased to see our strategy and how well we handled this match.”
Liverpool had been outplayed in Paris last week, but the Merseyside club is no stranger to comebacks in this tournament.
They famously overcame a 3-0 deficit to AC Milan in the 2005 final, winning on penalties. More recently, they overturned a 3-0 first leg loss against Barcelona in the 2019 semifinals, advancing with a 4-0 victory.
Anfield is known for its electrifying atmosphere, particularly on European nights, and the PSG team bus was welcomed with red flares upon arrival. Yet, within the stadium, PSG fans matched the home crowd’s energy, singing loudly as the home supporters seemed somewhat subdued at times.
Despite the loss of Hugo Ekitike to an early injury, Liverpool had their opportunities. Virgil van Dijk was thwarted in the first half by a crucial block from Marquinhos.
“For a defender, moments like that are more rewarding than scoring a goal. It’s what I cherish most,” Marquinhos told Canal+. “I saw Van Dijk approaching and instinctively threw myself at the ball. These are the little moments that can change a game.”
In the second half, the belief among the home fans began to swell as Liverpool ramped up the pressure.
A potential comeback appeared possible when referee Maurizio Mariani awarded a penalty for a foul by Willian Pacho on Alexis Mac Allister shortly after the hour.
With the score at 0-0, this was the chance to test PSG’s resilience. However, elation quickly turned to despair as the penalty was overturned after a review.
Contributions from The Associated Press and ESPN Research aided this report.