Paris Saint-Germain is currently riding high on a 10-game winning streak as they gear up for a Champions League showdown against Liverpool. Fresh off a convincing 4-1 triumph over Lille, PSG looks unstoppable as they head into the pivotal match.
On Wednesday night, football fans will witness a thrilling encounter as the top teams from the Premier League and Ligue 1 clash in the first leg of the Champions League last 16. Both Liverpool and PSG are considered frontrunners in their respective leagues. PSG, in particular, has been steadily marching towards a fourth consecutive title, a quest they furthered at Lille’s expense — a club that last shook up PSG’s dominance by claiming the title in the 2020/21 season.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s manager, made strategic shifts after the French Cup quarter-finals, where the team hammered fourth-tier Stade Briochin 7-0. Six changes followed, with key players like Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, and Goncalo Ramos continuing in the lineup. Meanwhile, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembele all returned to the fold.
For their recent face-off with Lille, PSG fielded Donnarumma; a backline of Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, and Mendes; a midfield comprising Ruiz, Doue, and Neves; and an attacking trio of Dembele, Barcola, and Ramos. On the bench, the likes of Safonov, Mayulu, Kimpembe, and Hernandez waited in reserve.
During the first half at the Parc des Princes, Barcola, Marquinhos, Dembele, and Doue each added a goal to PSG’s tally. Lille’s Jonathan David managed a late goal, serving only as a consolation. With a solid lead, Enrique made four changes around the hour mark, substituting Hakimi, Mendes, Dembele, and Neves with fresh players.
The substitutes, Warren Zaire-Emery, Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Vitinha, stepped in seamlessly, maintaining PSG’s offensive momentum. Thanks to their unwavering form, PSG now sits a comfortable 16 points atop Ligue 1, edging closer to a certain title with six more wins needed from their remaining ten matches.
Currently, PSG is enjoying an unbeaten run stretching 22 games—a streak that now includes 10 victories in succession, complementing four straight league wins. This impressive campaign places them shoulder to shoulder with Liverpool and Galatasaray in terms of unbeaten runs in European leagues, all standing at 24 games without a loss.
After the match, Enrique remarked, “We’re not altering much; today served as a valuable test,” via L’Equipe. Reflecting on the strategic pressures applied to opponents like Lille and Liverpool, he noted, “We pressed them into abandoning their usual playstyle, forcing long balls.” Acknowledging the challenge posed by Liverpool, Enrique was resolute: “We’re facing Europe’s finest, but it’s not in our nature to sit back defensively. We’ll press forward and play to our strengths.”
He emphasized Liverpool’s formidable form, calling them perhaps Europe’s best in terms of performance and results. “This could be worthy of a Champions League final. We’ll bring our A-game,” Enrique concluded, setting the stage for a captivating battle.
