S Poddar
Luis Enrique exploded with jubilation, dashing across Anfield grass as Désiré Doué dispatched the clinching penalty calmly. Even after Paris Saint-Germain’s players and management reached the end of the tunnel, Enrique’s celebration did not abate. It was proof of the victory’s importance—PSG had just conquered one of the strongest challenges in seeking their first-ever Champions League championship.
Liverpool, much as they controlled vast chunks of the game, were left on the wrong side of fortune in this enthralling last-16 second-leg tie. The match was a repeat of the first leg, with the home team having control but ultimately losing by 1-0. This time around, the center stage was occupied by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Italian keeper, known to perform under immense pressure, blocked Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones in the penalty shootout, sending PSG into the quarter-finals. Ousmane Dembélé’s first-half goal had leveled Liverpool’s aggregate advantage, bringing the game down to a dramatic conclusion.
PSG took their penalties spotless. Vitinha, who was controlling midfield so beautifully all through the night, along with Gonçalo Ramos, Dembélé, and lastly Doué, nailed it with finesse. Liverpool, on the other hand, struggled, Mohamed Salah being the only one to score from the penalty spot. It was a frustrating night for the Egyptian forward, whose entire 120-minute performance was defined by squandered chances. In the end, Liverpool’s failure to translate their dominance into goals came at a cost, and Donnarumma, reminiscent of his Euro 2020 final heroics, once again proved the difference-maker on football’s biggest stage.
On the eve of the clash, Enrique had confidently stated, “Whoever wins tomorrow will go through to the final, I’ve no doubt.” His ecstatic reaction at full-time underscored his conviction. The match had lived up to its billing as a showdown between two of Europe’s elite teams. Arne Slot, reflecting on the occasion, described it as the most exhilarating game he had ever been a part of—though for Liverpool, it was a cruel and agonizing experience.
Liverpool approached the match with a level of intensity that had been absent in Paris. They pressed PSG relentlessly, reversing the passive approach of the first leg. Inside four minutes, Alexis Mac Allister created a golden chance for Salah, selflessly squaring the ball after being picked out by an astute layoff from Dominik Szoboszlai. Salah, looking to double Liverpool’s aggregate advantage, had his shot deflect off Nuno Mendes and over the crossbar. He then glided past Mendes with ease once more, cutting inside before sending his shot wide. These early wasted opportunities set the tone for a night of frustration for Liverpool’s star man.
PSG, who were initially nervous, were unable to find rhythm. Defenders Willian Pacho and Achraf Hakimi, as well as Donnarumma, added to the anxiety with rare misplaced passes. But football being the game of uncertainty soon came into effect. Having been unable to score from 27 attempts in the first leg, PSG scored with their very first shot of the return leg.
Liverpool’s intense high-pressing left them vulnerable when Mendes played a sharp diagonal pass from deep, evading the entire midfield. Dembélé held up in space and passed Bradley Barcola, who tried a return pass into the box. Ibrahima Konaté’s attempted clearance sent the ball behind Alisson and towards his own goal, with Dembélé having an easy tap-in to level the tie.
Alisson made crucial saves to keep Liverpool in the hunt, blocking Barcola and Dembélé prior to halftime. Dembélé, still threatening, cut it back for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose thunderous strike was heading for the top corner—before Ryan Gravenberch’s stretching foot somehow steered it over the bar. Dembélé’s curling shot from the edge of the box also benefited from a vital deflection, keeping hopes alive for Liverpool.
Even though they generated a whirlwind of opportunities, Liverpool was left stuck by the impenetrability of Donnarumma. Núñez was agonizingly close on more than one occasion, while the finishing mediocrity of Salah continued. Extra time produced no decisive moment, and as the game moved towards penalties, tension within Anfield grew intense.
Donnarumma proved once again why he excels in pressure-cooker situations. The giant Italian, already an important player in PSG’s European campaign, delivered when it was most needed. His decisive saves from Núñez and Jones sealed the fate of Liverpool, while PSG penalty takers showed great nerve, converting with ruthless precision.
As PSG players celebrated and Liverpool’s crumpled in dejection, the scale of the moment was clear. Enrique’s team had overcome one of their toughest tests, and with an even greater challenge now beaten, their dream of European success very much intact. For Liverpool, it was a tragic departure—a night of dominance ruined by their inability to take advantage when it most counted.
