UCL: Liverpool's Champions League Hopes Dashed by PSG

Paris Saint-Germain edged Liverpool in a nail-biting penalty shootout to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals. Gianluigi Donnarumma's heroics in goal proved decisive.

PSG's goalkeeper, Donnarumma, emerged as the hero, as Paris Saint-Germain edged Liverpool in a nail-biting penalty shootout, securing their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals. The dramatic 4-1 victory marked PSG's first-ever European competition win in a penalty shootout.

In a stunning turn of events, Arne Slot's side managed to cling to their 1-0 aggregate lead, despite being thoroughly outplayed in the first leg. However, Liverpool came out swinging in the second leg, unleashing a flurry of attacks in the opening 10 minutes that surpassed their entire output from the first match. Nuno Mendes made a crucial block to deny Mohamed Salah, who later embarked on a dazzling run, only to send his shot wide.

Despite Liverpool's relentless pressure, PSG seized the opportunity to land a counterpunch, courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé's equalizing goal, which wiped out the Reds' aggregate advantage and set the stage for a thrilling climax.

The forward's clever link-up with Bradley Barcola led to the equalizing goal, which was helped by a slice of luck. Ibrahima Konaté's attempted interception of Barcola's pass inadvertently played the ball back into the path of the France international, who slotted home with ease.

Konaté sought redemption with a powerful long-range shot, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was equal to the task, parrying the ball to safety. However, Liverpool's defensive vulnerabilities were still apparent. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's curling effort, which took a deflection off Ryan Gravenberch, narrowly sailed over the bar after he was picked out by Dembélé.

After the interval, Slot's team emerged with renewed intensity. Dominik Szoboszlai thought he had scored, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Shortly after, Donnarumma produced a spectacular one-handed save to deny Luis Díaz's header from Alexis Mac Allister's corner. Mac Allister's set-pieces were causing chaos, and another corner picked out Salah, whose close-range effort was brilliantly cleared away by Kvaratskhelia.

Liverpool continued to pile on the pressure, and Jarell Quansah's diving header from Andrew Robertson's free-kick crashed off the woodwork - although the goal would have been disallowed for offside anyway. PSG struggled to gain a foothold in the second half, but Kvaratskhelia served a reminder of his quality with a speculative right-footed attempt that just cleared the crossbar, setting the stage for an additional 30 minutes of extra time.

PSG had two rapid-fire opportunities to double their tally on the night. Lucas Beraldo's header from Kvaratskhelia's cross whizzed inches wide, and Désiré Doué also came agonizingly close to finding the target. With neither team able to break the deadlock, the match inevitably headed towards a penalty shootout.

Paris beat Liverpool on penalties! Donnarumma saves two 😱#UCL pic.twitter.com/ChnnJepnQX

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 11, 2025

As the teams prepared for the shootout, Liverpool fans had every reason to feel optimistic, given their impressive record in UEFA competition, with four wins from five shootouts. In contrast, PSG's history in continental shootouts was bleak, having lost their only previous one to Rangers in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup third round. However, it was PSG who gained the upper hand in the shootout, as Donnarumma's save from Darwin Nunez set the tone.

The star of the shoot-out 🧤#UCL pic.twitter.com/FdYrQoGSZS

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 11, 2025

After Curtis Jones was also denied, Doué stepped up to seal the victory for PSG, securing their spot in the quarterfinals, where they will face either Club Brugge or Aston Villa.