PSG's winning streak against English clubs continues

Before facing Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final on 13/7, PSG triumphed over five other English teams en route to their Champions League victory.

Chelsea will be the fifth English team PSG has faced in the 2024-2025 season. The last time the two sides met was in 2016 when PSG won both legs of their Champions League round of 16 tie by the same 2-1 scoreline. In eight previous encounters, the French side has won three, drawn three, and lost two.

PSG will face Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final on 13/7. This match will feel familiar to PSG fans. On their path to Champions League glory this season, Luis Enrique's team defeated five other English opponents in four separate encounters.

These victories propelled them to their first Champions League title, making them the second French club to achieve this feat, following Marseille in 1993. A win against Chelsea would complete a historic quintuple, adding the Club World Cup to their Ligue 1, French Super Cup, Coupe de France, and Champions League titles.

The top four scorers in PSG-Chelsea matches are Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Didier Drogba, and Eden Hazard, all with two goals each.

PSG 4-2 Man City: A turning point

Going into the Man City match, PSG were languishing near the bottom of the Champions League group stage table. Enrique's side needed a win to avoid dropping out of the top 24 and early elimination. The Parc des Princes, "under a torrential downpour, fell into a stunned silence," as FIFA described, when Jack Grealish's close-range finish gave the visitors the lead in the 50th minute. Minutes later, Erling Haaland doubled City's advantage, seemingly compounding PSG's woes.

While many teams might have crumbled, PSG demonstrated resilience. Within four minutes, they leveled the score at 2-2 thanks to goals from Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola. The comeback was complete when Joao Neves headed in Vitinha's pinpoint free-kick in the 78th minute. Goncalo Ramos (number 9 in the photo) sealed the victory in stoppage time.

"The Champions League match against Man City was the turning point," said Senny Mayulu. "From then on, we grew stronger and stronger."

PSG 0-1 Liverpool: A harsh lesson in finishing

In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, familiar mistakes from previous seasons resurfaced for PSG. They dominated the match but suffered a late blow in the 87th minute when substitute Harvey Elliott scored the decisive goal with his first touch.

"The defeat is unfair on us," said Enrique. "In games like these, you have to take your chances." Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted, "A draw would have been fortunate for us. PSG played much better."

Liverpool 0-1 PSG (1-4 on penalties): A stunning comeback

In the second leg at Anfield, PSG transformed their first-leg disappointment into motivation for a remarkable turnaround. Dembele's 12th-minute goal gave them the lead before the match went to penalties.

Vitinha, Ramos, Dembele, and Doue all converted their spot-kicks for PSG, while Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones missed for Liverpool. "I'm delighted because we have shown that we are a real team," declared Enrique.

PSG 3-1 Aston Villa: A statement victory

Following their convincing win over Liverpool, PSG entered the quarter-final against Aston Villa as clear favorites. They lived up to expectations, comfortably overturning an early deficit to win 3-1. Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes scored after Ollie Watkins gave Aston Villa a 35th-minute lead.

Aston Villa 3-2 PSG: A narrow escape

In the return leg at Villa Park, PSG's complacency nearly cost them dearly. After taking a 2-0 lead within the first 27 minutes, they conceded three consecutive goals. If not for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's heroics and some wayward Aston Villa finishing in the final 30 minutes, the outcome could have been different. PSG survived to win 5-4 on aggregate. "We were too complacent. We thought we had already done the job and secured our place in the semi-finals," admitted Dembele.

Arsenal 0-1 PSG: A controlled performance

In a similar scenario to the round of 16 second leg at Anfield, Dembele's early goal – just three minutes into the match – stunned the Emirates Stadium crowd. PSG then produced a disciplined performance at both ends of the pitch to maintain their advantage. "We showed the spirit I really want to see as a coach," said Enrique after the Champions League semi-final first-leg victory.

PSG 2-1 Arsenal: Crushing the Gunners' hopes

In the second leg, Arsenal missed a series of chances to level the tie on aggregate. They paid the price as PSG regained control, counter-attacked, and scored. Goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave the French side a 2-0 lead, effectively ending Arsenal's hopes of a comeback. Bukayo Saka's late goal was mere consolation as PSG won 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final, where they convincingly defeated Inter Milan 5-0.