Liverpool 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG win 4-1 on penalties)
The hero of England’s heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final, Gianluigi Donnarumma, once again crushed English hopes—this time at Anfield. The Italian goalkeeper stood like a wall, frustrating Liverpool throughout the match and becoming PSG’s savior in the penalty shootout.
PSG, who failed to capitalize on their attacking dominance in the first leg, wasted no time in the return leg. They broke through early and set the tone for a fierce battle. Liverpool took control in the second half, but Donnarumma remained unshaken. The match ended 1-0 in PSG’s favor, leveling the tie at 1-1 on aggregate. With the game heading into extra time and ultimately penalties, Donnarumma’s brilliance ensured PSG’s place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Early Strike Stuns Anfield
On Tuesday night at Anfield, PSG overturned their first-leg defeat with a hard-fought 1-0 win in regulation time. The match was an intense battle of attack and counterattack. While Liverpool dominated after the break, PSG defended resolutely, and the match remained deadlocked at 1-1 on aggregate.
The decisive moment came in the 12th minute. A swift counterattack saw Ousmane Dembélé exploit a defensive lapse from Liverpool. After a pass from Bradley Barcola, the French forward found himself in the right place to slot the ball past Alisson, silencing the Anfield crowd.
It was the fastest goal Liverpool had conceded in a Champions League home match since September 2017.
Liverpool Fight Back, But Donnarumma Stands Tall
Liverpool responded with relentless attacks. Mohamed Salah, unusually subdued in the first leg, looked sharp this time but failed to convert two clear chances within the first six minutes. Luis Díaz also came close, only to be denied by Donnarumma’s acrobatic save in the 52nd minute.
Liverpool thought they had equalized in the second half, but their goal was ruled offside. As the game wore on, Liverpool piled on the pressure, yet PSG’s defensive resilience, led by their brilliant goalkeeper, held firm.
By the time extra time arrived, both teams became more cautious, wary of making a costly mistake. The best chance in extra time fell to Dembélé in the 109th minute, but Alisson made a crucial stop to keep Liverpool’s hopes alive.
Penalty Shootout Heroics
With no winner in 120 minutes, the match was decided by penalties. PSG were flawless from the spot, scoring all four of their attempts. Meanwhile, Donnarumma turned into Liverpool’s nightmare, saving shots from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones, sealing PSG’s 4-1 shootout victory.
Once again, just like in the Euro 2020 final, the Italian shot-stopper proved to be the ultimate difference-maker, sending Liverpool crashing out and guiding PSG into the quarter-finals.
A Tale of Two Teams
Liverpool, under Arne Slot, had been one of the most consistent teams in this season’s Champions League. They breezed through the group stage, winning their first seven games, making them a strong contender for the title. But their journey came to a shocking end in the round of 16.
On the other hand, PSG had a shaky start to their campaign, struggling in the group stage. Yet, when it mattered most, they rose to the occasion, eliminating one of the tournament’s favorites and keeping their dream of European glory alive.
