Paris Saint-Germain secured a dramatic 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Liverpool at Anfield to reach the Champions League quarterfinals. Ousmane Dembélé’s 12th-minute goal sealed a 1-0 win on the night, leveling the tie at 1-1 on aggregate before PSG held their nerve in the shootout.
Penalty hero
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero, saving penalties from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones, while PSG converted all their spot-kicks through Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, Dembélé, and Désiré Doué. The French champions will now face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the next round.
Liverpool, needing a goal to advance, dominated much of the match. Mohamed Salah had an early effort blocked on the goal line, and Donnarumma made key saves, including one from Ibrahima Konaté. The Reds thought they had broken through early in the second half when Dominik Szoboszlai found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Extra time
Despite relentless pressure, Liverpool couldn’t find a way past Donnarumma. In extra time, Dembélé almost snatched a winner, but Alisson Becker made a brilliant fingertip save. However, the Brazilian could do little in the shootout as PSG stayed composed.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his side despite the defeat, calling it “the best game of football I’ve ever been involved in.” Virgil van Dijk urged his teammates to move on quickly, with a League Cup final against Newcastle looming.
PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged Liverpool’s strong performance but lauded his team’s resilience in the challenging Anfield atmosphere. PSG also defied history, becoming only the fourth team to overturn a home first-leg loss in the Champions League knockout stages.
Amid freezing temperatures, PSG’s traveling supporters celebrated long after the final whistle, marking a memorable night for the French giants.
