When Kylian Mbappé left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, many asked — could PSG continue to compete in Europe? The answer given throughout the 2025/26 season is clear and emphatic: Yes, and even at a higher level. The Paris side rebuilt itself, found two new stars leading it forward, and now stands at the threshold of a Champions League semifinal — with performances that excite even the most critical observers of European football.
If there's one player who symbolizes PSG's revolution this season, it's Ousmane Dembélé. The Frenchman, who arrived from Barcelona in 2023 with a reputation as a talented but inconsistent player, has made a leap no one expected. In the 2025/26 season, Dembélé has recorded 35 goals and 14 assists across all competitions — numbers that place him among the very best forwards in Europe this season.
The secret? A combination of physical resilience he never had before, confidence built gradually, and a technical ability that was always there but didn't always find expression. In the French league he topped the scoring chart, but the Champions League is where his performances shine brightest. Already in 8 tournament appearances, he has recorded six goals and three assists — and it looks like the best is still ahead of him.
If Dembélé represents the raw, powerful side of the attack, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia brings something completely different — magic, creativity, and a left foot capable of tucking balls away from angles that seem impossible. The Georgian, who arrived from Napoli, has become in recent months one of the most fascinating players to watch in European football.
His Champions League numbers speak for themselves: 6 goals and 4 assists in 10 appearances. But the statistic that best reflects his impact is this: involved in 11 goals in his last 11 Champions League matches. That's a level of consistency reserved for elite players only.
His latest peak? Against Chelsea in the round of 16. Kvaratskhelia simply wiped out the English defense, scored 4 goals across the two matches, and left no doubt — PSG were the better team. By far.
The round of 16 against Chelsea will be remembered for years. PSG won 5-2 in London, at Stamford Bridge, which was as always full of an enthusiastic crowd but had no answer for the French visitors. A week later, at Parc des Princes, another 3-0 — the final blow that turned the aggregate into 8-2.
for PSG. Chelsea had no answer. PSG's pace of play, the combination of Dembélé's experience with Kvaratskhelia's agility, and alongside them Marco Asensio who also contributes to Luis Enrique's slick style of play — all of it created a football spectacle that sent shockwaves across Europe. Spanish, English and German journalists all asked out loud: Are PSG the great favorites for the title?
An inseparable part of PSG's story this season is the crowd. Parc des Princes, with 48,583 seats, has become one of the most intimidating grounds in Europe. The Paris crowd — who suffered years of disappointment in the decisive stages of the Champions League — believe this time something different is happening.
In every home match of the tournament, the atmosphere was electric. The club anthem echoes from every stand, the flags wave, and there's a feeling that this time — it's coming. Enrique has used the home ground as a weapon, instructing his players to come out aggressive from the first minute and give the visitors no time to settle.
Now comes the biggest challenge yet. Liverpool, led by Mohamed Salah who recently scored his 50th Champions League goal — an African record — await in the quarterfinal. Both legs, on 8 April in Paris and 14 April at Anfield, are likely to be the backbone of the entire tournament.
The Reds arrived here after overcoming Galatasaray 4-1 on aggregate. They did lose 0-1 in Istanbul, but at Anfield they torched their opponent 4-0. Experience, class on the ball, and a home ground that topples teams — Liverpool will not be easy to beat.
But PSG 2025/26 don't look afraid of anyone. Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, and a squad depth that Enrique has built over two years — this is the most dangerous team Paris have sent to Europe since the days of Neymar-Mbappé. And perhaps even more dangerous, because this time the football is collective, not dependent on the whims of two superstars.
What sets this season's PSG apart from all its previous versions is defensive cohesion. Luis Enrique has managed to build a team that not only attacks beautifully, but also knows how to defend. They've conceded on average less than a goal per game in the Champions League — a stat that reflects organization and players who understand their roles.
Unlike seasons in which PSG were vulnerable in transitions and prone to conceding counterattacks, this year the press is high and the transitions are fast. When they lose the ball, they immediately sprint to win it back. When they win it, they advance fast. This is modern football at its highest level.
If PSG overcome Liverpool, they will meet in the semifinal the winner of Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich. Yes — this is the tournament where every stage is a peak. The grand final will be held on 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest — and Paris want to be there.
PSG's 2025/26 season is already etched as one of the greatest in the club's history. If they manage to add a final — or even a final win — to it, a new chapter will be written in Paris's football history. Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, and Enrique have already promised this story won't be boring. One thing's for sure: we're not supposed to be getting much sleep in the coming months.
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