Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have made a habit in recent years of heading into the Champions League knockout stages with doubts surrounding their form and the fitness of key players. However, this season, PSG appear to be in excellent shape, primed for a deep run in the competition. The French champions are set to face domestic rivals Brest in the first leg of their play-off tie, and they are clear favorites for the matchup.
Despite some stuttering European form towards the end of 2024—marked by defeats to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich—PSG have found their stride. With manager Luis Enrique at the helm, the Parisians have bounced back, securing dominant victories over Manchester City and Stuttgart to seal their place in the Champions League knockout phase.
A Dream Draw for PSG
PSG couldn’t have asked for a kinder draw in the Champions League play-offs. They have been beaten just once in their last 61 encounters with French sides, and the immense financial advantage PSG holds over every other club in France is hard to overlook. Despite this, PSG now look like genuine Champions League contenders after their resounding 4-1 victory over Monaco in Ligue 1.
Monaco‘s Adi Hütter was quick to recognize PSG’s quality, stating after the game:
“PSG, with their quality, especially up front, can be a threat for every team. For me, they are a candidate to win the Champions League.”
The Mbappé-less PSG: Dembele and Others Step Up
The biggest question surrounding PSG heading into this season’s knockout stages was how they would adapt without Kylian Mbappé. However, Ousmane Dembele has stepped into the limelight, producing sensational form that has made PSG look unstoppable. Dembele has netted 16 goals in his last 10 appearances, including an incredible eight goals in his last three matches, capped off with a hat-trick in PSG’s 5-2 victory over Brest in Ligue 1.
Additionally, Bradley Barcola has returned to his best form, and January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia marked his arrival with his first PSG goal in the victory against Monaco.
With these players stepping up, PSG has quickly become one of the most feared attacking teams in Europe, a far cry from the side that struggled to score in the earlier stages of this year’s Champions League.
Luis Enrique’s Optimism: “We Never Stop Fighting”
Luis Enrique remains confident heading into the Champions League knockout rounds. The coach reflected on the team’s growth throughout the season:
“We’ve been through everything in the Champions League this season… those delicate moments in which only our own supporters believed in us are all marvelous now because they have helped us mature as a young team.”
Enrique emphasized that his team will continue to fight, always striving to play good football and press aggressively. PSG’s objective this season is clear: to fight for every competition and make history.
Brest’s Historic Challenge
For Brest, making it this far in the Champions League is an incredible achievement. This is their first-ever appearance in European competition, and despite being drawn against one of their domestic rivals, they will take this challenge in stride. The Brittany club will host PSG’s visit at Guingamp due to their own stadium not meeting UEFA requirements, having previously lost 3-0 to Real Madrid in the group stage.
Brest coach Eric Roy admitted that while playing PSG is a daunting task, the opportunity to face one of the world’s top clubs is still a monumental occasion for his team:
“PSG are an incredible team, one of the four or five favorites to win the competition. On paper, we are not in the same world.”
Despite this, Brest will look to make the most of their moment in the spotlight, with the second leg of the tie taking place on February 19.
Looking Ahead: Potential Matchups in the Last 16
Whoever emerges victorious from the PSG vs. Brest play-off will face the prospect of meeting either Liverpool or Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16. This adds extra intrigue to an already thrilling knockout stage.