UCL: PSG seize control against Liverpool
Paris Saint-Germain beat Liverpool 2-0 at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
PSG make amends for last year's defeat
When these two sides met in the Champions League Round of 16 last season, it was Liverpool who came away from the Parc des Princes with a slender advantage, following Harvey Elliott's late goal.
This time meeting in the quarter-final stage, there never looked like being a repeat. PSG raced into a lead thanks to Désiré Doué, whose long-range dipping effort took a minor but crucial deflection, allowing it to go just over Giorgi Mamardashvili but just under the bar (11').
Désiré Doué. Still 20 years old. ⚡️
🌟 18 G/A in 32 matches this season
🌟 5 goals in 9 #UCL matches
🌟 5 G/A in his last 5 #UCL matches pic.twitter.com/jdg1Mq59NA— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 8, 2026
Les Parisiens were purring in the first half and exerted great control over the game. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia forced his compatriot in the Liverpool goal into action once again (32'). The Georgian pulled off a great save from 'Kvara's' first-time effort.
As half-time approached, PSG pushed for a second, and Doué almost doubled his account, but his effort was placed too close to Mamardashvili (38'). After a sumptuous team move, which began with a sublime Joao Neves shoulder pass, Doué then set up Ousmane Dembélé, whose first-time effort with his left was, once again, too close to Mamardashvili. The Ballon d'Or winner was targeting the far corner but dragged his effort (42'), as did Neves moment when teed up inside the box (45').
Kvara doing Kvara things 🇬🇪😍 pic.twitter.com/FeN1m7g3CD
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 8, 2026
Another big chance would go begging just after half-time as, found around eight yards out, unmarked, Dembélé had the goal at his mercy, but could only blast over (53'). But Luis Enrique's side would not be denied for long. Kvaratskhelia, fed in behind, would go on a mazy run, eliminating a Liverpool defender and Mamardashvili, before then calmly placing the ball into the far corner (65').
Chances continued to come PSG's way. Warren Zaire-Emery thought he had won a penalty, only for Ibrahima Konaté's tackle to be adjudged to have not been a foul upon review (70').
Achraf Hakimi then forced Mamardashvili into yet another save (82'). The Ligue 1 McDonald's leaders were looking to put the game to bed. Dembélé almost did it, but could only strike the outside of Mamardashvili's post with a shot from a tight angle (87'). Nuno Mendes had another chance, but put in one on one, he worked the perfect chance, but miscontroled, failing to get his shot away (90'). Regardless, PSG head to Anfield next week with a two-goal advantage to defend.
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