A rollercoaster of emotions: Paris's 2024–2025 UCL campaign

CHAPTER 1
A NEW FORMAT

The new season brought with it a fresh look for Europe's most prestigious club competition – more teams, more games, a revamped schedule and a heightened level of suspense – and in late August, Paris's list of opponents was revealed: Girona, Arsenal, PSV, Atlético de Madrid, Bayern Munich, Salzburg, Manchester City and Stuttgart.

Despite Les Parisiens having been placed in Pot 1 for the league-phase draw, the tricky prospect of eight matches, including two in January, was what awaited them as the curtain lifted on the brand-new version of the UEFA Champions League.

CHAPTER 2
FOOTBALL'S A CRUEL GAME

It was against Girona, a new face on the Champions League scene, that PSG got the ball rolling. Facing a team that had very much been the surprise package of the 2023–2024 La Liga season and that had nothing to lose at the Parc des Princes, Les Rouge et Bleu were battling hard and dominating proceedings but were struggling to find a way through. As it turned out, they would have to wait until the dying moments and one last run from Nuno Mendes down the left wing to force the issue, as opposition keeper Paulo Gazzaniga let the full-back's cross-come-shot slip between his gloves and into the back of his net to give Paris the win by the narrowest of margins as well as an early reminder to believe in themselves until the very end – a lesson that would bode well for the future.

However, things got harder before they got easier for Les Parisiens, who suffered their first loss of the season in any competition away to Arsenal on Matchday 2. This result in London was followed by a draw at home to PSV Eindhoven and a stoppage-time defeat at home to Atlético de Madrid, who struck the winning goal like a knife through Paris's heart in the final minute of the match.

Luis Enrique wasn't about to give into panic, though, as he maintained – with the help of the stats – that his team wasn't being rewarded for its top-drawer performances due to a lack of proper finishing. Adjustments would need to be made to ensure that everything fell into place, but this was unfortunately not going to happen in Les Parisiens' next outing, a 1-0 loss away to Bayern Munich, the final half an hour of which they played with ten men following Ousmane Dembélé's sending-off. Doubts were now beginning to creep in among casual observers but not among the Paris fans, coaching staff or players; it was precisely when they had their backs to the wall that Les Rouge et Bleu would write history.

CHAPTER 3
Three MATCHES, one turning point

‘Three finals’. That’s how Luis Enrique’s described the final three games in the League Phase. First up was Salzburg, and Paris turned on the style with a big 3-0 win, including a first competitive goal for Désiré Doué in Paris colours. Next up was Manchester City at the Parc des Princes. The stakes couldn’t have been higher with the reigning English champions needing a result themselves to keep qualification hopes alive.

Against the run of play, City somehow found themselves two goals to the good and Les Rouge et Bleu seemed to be heading for the exit. But it was a special night and there was something in the air… something magical. In an absolutely stunning finish, Paris overran their opponents, running out 4-2 winners in front of a pulsating crowd in rapture at Le Parc. A night that will not be forgotten.

Paris then defeated Stuttgart 4-1 courtesy of a Dembélé hat-trick, confirming their place in the play-offs for the last-16 against fellow Ligue 1 side Brest.

Against a courageous Brittany outfit, Les Parisiens proved all too strong. With confidence sky-high and their football catching the eye, Paris were heading back across the Channel in the knockout phase…

CHAPTER 4
RED AND BLUE ARMY

Runaway leaders of the English Premier League, Liverpool were the next obstacle for Paris to negotiate. Many predicted this would be the end of the road for the French champions, confronted with the biggest test in world football. Paris lost the first leg, at home, in yet another cruel result (see Chapter 1), but the true believers hadn’t lost their faith – there was still that little  magic in the air. The neutral observers, all over the world, were enchanted by the football being played by Luis Enrique’s men, and even in England, there was a feeling that there was still everything still to play for in the return leg at Anfield.

It’s a mythical stadium where you’ll never walk alone, and on this night, there was a unity, a cohesion, about Les Rouge et Bleu that gave a new, stirring interpretation of the famous anthem. Dembélé, again, scored early as Paris dominated the play. It went all the way to penalties where Gigio Donnarumma’s saves and a final strike from Doué sent Paris and their supporters to paradise.

Paris’ travelling support has also captured the imagine of fans all over Europe and the world. The videos of the Rouge et Bleu faithful have been going viral across the internet, illustrating the incredible support the club can count on: Fans that never give up, just like their team.

Aston Villa were next up and they tried to catch out Luis Enrique and his men, by opening the scoring in Paris, and coming back from two goals down in Birmingham. It was a reminder that anything can happen in the rarefied air of the latter stages of the Champions League. But Kvara's dribbling, Doué's accelerations, Viti's control, and Gigio's iron fist in a velvet glove were the X-factors. After Liverpool and Birmingham, Paris were now heading back to London.

CHAPTER 5
LONDON CALLING

The famous twist of fate. The defeat at Arsenal in the League Phase had left a bitter taste in the mouth, but this semi-final over two legs was always going to be a whole new ball game, with a stronger, more mature, and more confident Paris. And while Arsenal thought they would be the ones to bring Paris crashing back to earth, our team remained true to its principles: possession-based football, movement, speed and always, always on the front foot!

Dembélé opened the scoring in the fourth minute in London. A single goal was enough to see Les Parisiens return to the French capital with a slender advantage. What a contest this promised to be… and it didn’t disappoint!

When Fabian feinted to open up space and unleashed his missile, the Parc roared like one ferocious beast. Gigio, ‘il bravissimo’ Donnarumma was again outstanding to preserve the lead.

When Hakimi scored Paris' second goal, the crowd went wild, knowing that the club was truly on its way. The crowd was fusional, the atmosphere electric, and not even an Arsenal goal could shake the resolve. Fans and players alike wrote their own destiny as Paris marched into the final. A final for its adoring public, who were deprived the opportunity to be present in Lisbon in 2021.

CHAPTER 6
MAKE HISTORY

It’s hard to write the next lines without getting superstitious. We don’t want to predict anything, or tempt fate, we don’t dare to dream. But we will hold onto this feeling that this campaign is special, that this team is special. This Champions League final will be the first ever competitive meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale. Now it’s up to the players, the coaching staff, the entire club and its supporters to write this final chapter, to which we will supply the final words around midnight, this Saturday.