Paris put on a show against Lyon to take home the Coupe de France!

A magnificent showdown to bring the curtain down on a season so rich in emotions: our Parisians headed north to face Olympique Lyonnais in the Coupe de France final in Lille. To approach this grand rendezvous, Luis Enrique relied on all his attacking strengths to compose his starting eleven. An eleven propelled by its French arrows, as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Bradley Barcola were all present at kick-off. Other senior players like Vitinha, our captain Marquinhos and Gigio Donnarumma completed this enticing team. Let the show begin!

In a magnificent atmosphere, the battle began this Saturday evening. On one side, the Gones' crowd, fuelled by a supernatural force since Pierre Sage's arrival. On the other, the undisputed French champions who had easily dispatched Lyon in the home-and-away matches this campaign (4-1). The stage was set! While the electricity of a final is always special, this match-up once again resulted in a high-level clash. An intense fight unfolded from the outset, with no time to get a feel of the other side. True to their identity, our Rouge et Bleu quickly seized control of the ball to create the first opportunities of the evening. Within minutes, Lucas Beraldo (1'), Bradley Barcola (3') and Warren Zaïre-Emery (5') had set the tone. After such a promising start, it was only logical that our players found the breakthrough! From a pinpoint cross sent in by Nuno Mendes, Ousmane Dembélé, perfectly positioned at the far post, powered a header home to send the Parisian crowd into pandemonium in the stands! (1-0, 22').

Far from easing off, Luis Enrique's men kept their foot on the accelerator, increasing the pressure on their rivals, executing their game plan with remarkable precision. What's more, they even managed to double their lead in this first half, which they controlled so masterfully, with Fabian Ruiz sending the ball into the net on a roll of the dice after a beautiful team move where Dembélé traded his scorer's hat for that of a provider (2-0, 34'). What a performance! And it's with this comfortable lead, a testament to their clear domination (8 shots on target to 0 at half-time!) that our Parisians could take a breather at halftime...

But it was to be expected, after enduring 45 minutes of pressure, Pierre Sage's players were not going to surrender and were determined to offer a response in the second half. And against the run of play, they managed to pull one back, with their first shot on target, through O’Brien (2-1, 54'). Faced with a Lyon team completely unburdened, it was necessary to tighten the defence. But there was always a foot, a leg, or a head to block their attempts. Remarkably solid, our Rouge et Bleu resisted Lyon's assaults to maintain their lead and put an end to Lyon's incredible success. From a fine defensive move by Hakimi (60') to Vitinha's relentless harassment on every ball, to Gigio's masterful save (63'), the Parisians stood as one amid their opponents' strong periods.

The secret to a complete performance: capitalising on your strong moments and resisting during the weak ones! After delivering a performance full of determination, Paris Saint-Germain win a 15th Coupe de France in the club's illustrious history, brilliantly confirming its sovereignty in the oldest of domestic competitions. It marks the conclusion of a rich and intense campaign, characterised by strong emotions on all fronts, with a flawless record on the domestic stage and a memorable journey in European competition. The next chapter will begin in the heart of summer. Fluctuat nec mergitur!