Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) suffered a painful 1-0 defeat against Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash at Parc des Princes on Thursday. Despite dominating the match with an astonishing 28 attempts on goal, it was Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott who capitalised late in the game, securing victory with just their second shot on target.
PSG had shown promise in previous matches with a staggering 40 goals during a run of ten consecutive wins. However, their inability to convert chances resurfaced, reminiscent of earlier group stage struggles where they netted only once in encounters against Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
In a first half filled with frustration for PSG, the side generated 12 shots while Liverpool struggled to contain their speed and fluidity. Despite PSG’s superiority, the score remained goalless, leaving Liverpool head coach Arne Slot to acknowledge their fortune in escaping unscathed in the first half. Alisson, Liverpool’s goalkeeper, was pivotal, delivering a string of impressive saves throughout the match.
The Brazilian keeper denied efforts from PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé, showcasing remarkable reflexes. Kvaratskhelia thought he had scored with a curling effort in the 20th minute, but VAR intervened, ruling it out for a narrow offside. Liverpool also benefited from video review when a potential red card for Ibrahima Konaté was dismissed.
Despite their attacking prowess, PSG’s finishing was lacklustre, with missed opportunities haunting them, including shots from Barcola and João Neves that went over the bar. Alisson remained a barrier for PSG, producing a breathtaking save from a distant shot by substitute Désiré Doué as time dwindled.
Luis Enrique had warned of Liverpool’s counterattacking threat, a strategy that ultimately proved successful. As the match drew to a close, PSG faced increasing frustration with a corner nearly resulting in an own goal, but instead, Szoboszlai cleared it off the line.
The two teams will face off again next Wednesday at Anfield, with the winner progressing to the quarter-finals to meet either Aston Villa or Club Brugge. In related news, Bayern Munich secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, with Harry Kane ending his scoring drought to contribute to the win.
This encounter highlighted PSG’s ongoing challenges with clinical finishing amidst their seemingly commanding presence in matches.