Could 2025 be when PSG finally become European champions?

For over a decade, PSG has dreamed of winning the Champions League, the ultimate prize in club football. The club’s owners, Qatar Sports Investment, have spent heavily on big-name stars and head coaches but to no avail.

However, the evidence so far from season 2024/25 suggests that the team from the French capital could well be a major contender to become European champions.

Impressive over two legs in the last 16

PSG produced an excellent display to knock Premier League leaders Liverpool out of the Champions League in the round of 16. The Parisians dominated the first leg of the tie on home soil.

Only some profligacy in front of goal, and a goalkeeping masterclass from Liverpool’s Alisson stopped the reigning French champions from notching a cricket score. Incredibly, Luis Enrique’s team had 27 shots on goal before Liverpool snatched a last-gasp winner through substitute Harvey Elliott.

They headed to Anfield for the second leg as underdogs, as very few teams emerged from the famous old stadium with much to show for their efforts.

However, PSG drew the tie level on 12 minutes through a goal from star forward Ousmane Dembele. Liverpool should have sealed victory over 90 minutes, with Mohamed Salah missing two good chances and Dominik Szoboszlai seeing a goal disallowed.

PSG grew stronger, especially in extra time, with the Merseysiders seemingly tiring in the second half of the additional time. Vitinha and Joao Neves seemed to seize control of the midfield, while Dembele and co. always posed an attacking threat.

In the end, PSG went through thanks to a 4-1 penalty shootout win. The hero was Italian international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved two spot kicks.

It would be hard to say that the Ligue One leaders didn’t deserve to progress to the quarter-finals over the two legs, especially after their first-leg display.

A balanced, young, vibrant team

PSG has dominated Ligue One in recent seasons, or basically for the last decade. They never had much trouble dominating the French domestic game, but everybody associated with the Parisians has craved winning the Champions League.

In the last five seasons, the French side has finished as Champions League runners-up once and runners-up on two occasions. It has been a case of close, but not close enough for the Parisians when it comes to European football’s elite competition.

The club’s approach to attempting to win the competition was to throw money at it in the shape of bringing in high-profile world stars, such as Neymar and Lionel Messi, to name just a few.

It never felt like the club had a plan to build a team. Instead, they based their team on individual talent rather than on the team as a whole.

This season’s PSG seems far more of a team effort. They may have one star player in Ousmane Dembele, who is a highly talented player that is finally fulfilling his potential, but they are so much more than just one or two star individuals.

PSG finally looks like a team, with central midfield trio Neves, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz all making vital contributions to the team’s Champions League campaign this season. The French giants now look like they have a well-balanced, vibrant young team who are ready to take that next step.

That midfield engine room is where games can be won and lost, and PSG has found the right balance in the centre of the park with the players in their squad.

Younger players like Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and William Pacho have also made vital contributions at both ends of the pitch for PSG this season in the team’s Champions League campaign.

It can’t be claimed that PSG have not spent big money in recent windows. However, they have used that money in a far shrewder way, strengthening every department of their team. This has resulted in a far better harmony on the pitch.

PSG are genuine contenders to win the Champions League

This season, PSG look like genuine contenders to win the Champions League. The Parisians face Premier League Aston Villa in the last-eight of the competition.

The Villans won’t be easy opponents to beat over the two legs. As they have shown this season, they can challenge the best teams in the European game, as proven by their victory over German behemoths Bayern Munich at Villa Park in the Champions League group stage.

However, the two-legged victory over Liverpool in the last-16 of the competition was a statement win. It showed the world that the Parisians could take on the best teams in the competition and get the better of them. They played against Liverpool with little fear and will likely continue to do so for the rest of the season.

There is still plenty of football to be played in this season’s Champions League. However, the signs are encouraging for PSG when it comes to being crowned European champions for the first time in their history.