Stats & Facts: A look back at the win at Anfield

TICKET TO RIDE

We were shaking all night long! What a match, what a performance the Parisians put in at Anfield, even though they had been promised hell. Beaten 0-1 in the first leg, the Rouge et Bleu produced a marvellous display that will live long in the memory, and not just of Parisian fans.

The level of football on display in the match was at an all-time high, and Reds coach Arne Slot went so far as to say that the two legs against Paris was the best he'd experienced in his entire career.

After the fateful shoot-out, it was to be the first time a French club had qualified via penalties in 40 years (Bordeaux in 1985). Before this match, French clubs had lost 4 shootouts in a row.

Paris have qualified for three of the last six Champions League knockout rounds after losing the first leg, coming from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in the 2019-20 Round of 16 (3-2 on aggregate), Barcelona in the 2023-24 quarter-finals (6-4 on aggregate), and this Tuesday evening.

Finally, PSG have reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the 9th time, at least 4 more times than any other French team (5 for Lyon). Since 2012-13, only Bayern Munich (12), Real Madrid (10 before their second leg on Wednesday) and Barcelona (10) have done so more often than the Parisians (8 - level with Manchester City).

COME TOGETHER

A strong team, both on and off the pitch. There are images that stand out, and the one of Luis Enrique in the middle of his players during the extra-time break, or before the penalty shoot-out, is proof of the strength of character of this team. Just like the 3,000 Parisians in the stands at Anfield.

Together, we achieved the club's 150th victory in all European competitions (63 draws, 74 defeats), at least 8 more than any other French team, becoming the 27th team to achieve this total and the first since Borussia Dortmund in October 2024.

The momentum is highly impressive, and the result of the first leg remains an anomaly, and it was finally corrected on Tuesday evening. The proof? PSG have won 4 of their last 5 Champions League away matches (1 defeat), which is as many as in the previous 14 (1 draw, 9 defeats). The Parisians have also won 6 of their last 7 Champions League matches (1 defeat), which is as many as in the previous 19 (3 draws, 10 defeats).

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

The team is strong, but on Tuesday evening, Ousmane Dembélé once again showed off his talent. The scorer of the only goal of the game, his 21st in all competitions with Paris in 2025, put his side on the right track. The Paris No10 has scored at least 6 more goals than any other player in Europe's top 5 leagues, including 7 in the Champions League, also the highest total over the period.

Dembouz has 29 goals in all competitions this season, more than in the previous 5 combined (24). He has scored each of his last 6 Champions League goals away from home (3 at Stuttgart, 2 at Brest, 1 at Liverpool).

Voted man of the match, Gigio Donnarumma was not to be outdone in terms of performance. Unlucky in the first leg, the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was a real boss in his box on Tuesday evening. In the air and on the ground, he put in an outstanding performance, and even shone in the penalty shoot-out.

He also became the 4th goalkeeper to make 2 saves in an away penalty shoot-out in the Champions League, after Volkan Demirel (3 with Sevilla in 2008), Manuel Neuer twice (2 in 2008 and 2012) and Andriy Lunin (2 in 2024). Grande Gigio!