Retro 2024-2025: On top of Europe!
Men's football•
On 31 May 2025, Paris Saint-Germain wrote the most glorious chapter in its history by lifting its first-ever Champions League trophy. An extraordinary and hard-fought journey: 17 matches from September to May, from Paris to Munich. Let’s look back at the Rouge et Bleu's unforgettable campaign, who experienced every possible emotion along the way.
From the shadows to the spotlight: The league phase
This season, the club from the capital faced a brand-new league phase format, featuring eight ranking matches. They started strong with a 1–0 win over Girona FC, but then hit a rough patch, going four games without a victory. At one point, Paris found themselves outside the top 25 and n the brink of elimination. A reaction was urgently needed if they were to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
It was during a confidence-boosting away win in Austria that Luis Enrique’s men got back on track, claiming victory over Salzburg. The first major moment of their European campaign came a few weeks later at the Parc des Princes. On a January night against Manchester City, Paris found themselves 2–0 down in the 53rd minute, against the run of play. But in the space of just four minutes, Ousmane Dembélé (1–2, 56') and Bradley Barcola (2–2, 60') turned the tide. Late in the game, Joao Neves (3–2, 78') and Gonçalo Ramos (4–2, 90+3') sealed a stunning comeback victory. Les Parisiens then wrapped up the league phase with an emphatic 4–1 win over Stuttgart, finishing in 15th place.
Brittany and Great Britain, time for the knockout stages
In the Round of 32, PSG faced fellow French side Brest. In the first leg, Marquinhos marked his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance, with a 3–0 win to celebrate the milestone. The return leg saw history made: with a 7–0 demolition, Paris Saint-Germain became the first team ever to have seven different scorers in a single Champions League match.
Next came Liverpool. Once again, the Rouge et Bleu had to come from behind. After a tough 1–0 loss in the first leg, Ousmane Dembélé struck early at Anfield (0–1, 12') to level the tie. In a nail-biting encounter that neither side could finish off, it all came down to penalties. Winning their first-ever European shootout, the Parisians showed the world their mental strength.
A new opponent awaited in the quarter-finals: Aston Villa, with a young, ambitious team with plenty to offer. Despite conceding first to the Villains, Les Parisiens responded with goals from Désiré Doué (1–1, 39'), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2–1, 49'), and Nuno Mendes (3–1, 90+2'), giving them a strong first-leg lead. In the return leg, Paris seemed in control after going 2–0 up, but Aston Villa came roaring back to win 3–2. A scare, but one that Paris managed well, securing qualification.
A third straight English opponent stood in the way in the next round. this time, Arsenal. For the first time ever, the club from the capital won both legs of a Champions League semi-final. Two composed, confident victories: 1–0 in London, courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé (4'), followed by a 2–1 win at the Parc des Princes. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring with a stunning volley (1–0, 27') and Achraf Hakimi made it 2–0 (72'), clocking a top speed of 36.9 km/h, the fastest of the tournament. Paris brought out the big guns and advanced to the second Champions League final in the club's history…
Forever the greatest
On 31 May, under the lights of Munich, Paris Saint-Germain pulled off a historic feat by winning the Champions League final 5–0 against Inter Milan. A performance for the ages.
Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring in the 12th minute (1–0), finishing off a perfect assist from Désiré Doué. The young midfielder then took center stage, netting twice (2–0, 20’ and 3–0, 63’) and in doing so, became the first player in history to be directly involved in three goals in a Champions League final. The fourth goal came from a brilliant team move that started all the way in defence with Willian Pacho. It ended with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia coolly slotting home (4–0, 73'). And in the dying moments, Senny Mayulu added the cherry on top of the cake. The Paris-born youngster etched his name into the history books, becoming, at just 19 years and 14 days old, the second youngest scorer ever in a Champions League final.
After years of struggle and heartbreak, Paris finally stood on top of Europe, lifting the long-coveted Champions League trophy. João Neves covered more ground than any other player in the competition, logging an incredible 184.3 kilometres over 16 appearances. Ousmane Dembélé was directly involved in 14 goals, scoring 8 and assisting 6, setting a new record for a player from a French club in a single Champions League campaign. A magical season, defined by commitment, resilience and collective brilliance.
