Paris Saint-Germain is a name that resonates with ambition, skill, and often heartbreak on the grand stage of European football. The club’s journey in the UEFA Champions League, the continent’s premier club competition, has been marked by moments of brilliance that have been overshadowed by near misses and disappointments. Despite boasting a lineup featuring some of the world’s best players, including a menacing front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, the Parisians suffered back-to-back exits in the round of 16 in each of their last two campaigns.
Since parting company with the former two of those three stars, the club from the French capital has begun turning the page on recent misfortunes. Their recent 4-1 aggregate triumph against Spanish side Real Sociedad has propelled them into the quarterfinals for the first time in three years, reigniting hopes among the Parc de Princes faithful. Their talismanic number seven scored three of those four goals, and his form will be imperative to any success that Luis Enrique’s men will have from here on out.
The bookies, however, are still skeptical. Websites providing odds and bonus bets on the Champions League, such as free bets for new customers, have still earmarked PSG as outsiders. They are priced below favorites and reigning champions Manchester City, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the odds list. Considering the fact that PSG have never lifted the trophy before, perhaps their predictions aren’t too far off the mark.
But with the club marching into the quarters for the first time in three years, we decided to take a look at what happened the last three times they made it to the quarterfinals.
2015/16 – Late Heartbreak
In the 2015/16 season, PSG reached the quarterfinals for the fourth straight season. They knocked out former champions Chelsea in the Round of 16 to make it that far but, just like in their previous three campaigns, they would suffer a disappointing elimination. For two of the last three of their eliminations, it was Barcelona that sent them packing. This time around, PSG were scheduled to face off against Manchester City in an ‘El Cashico’ of sorts.
The tie was evenly poised after the first leg, Kevin De Bruyne’s late strike leveling the game up at two apiece and leaving all to play for in the second leg at the Etihad. Despite their efforts, the French champions – who had more than held their own throughout the vast majority of the tie – ultimately fell short, losing 1-0. De Bruyne once again found the target, netting in the 76th minute to send City through to the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
2019/20 – The Final That Slipped Away
Following their loss to the Citizens in 2016, PSG embarked on a run of three straight Round of 16 finishes. In 2017, Barcelona completed the comeback of all comebacks with a stunning 6-1 victory at the Nou Camp before Real Madrid, and then, shockingly, Manchester United sent PSG packing in the subsequent years. But, in 2019/20, with Neymar front and center, the club finally shone on the grandest stage.
Under the management of Thomas Tuchel, the French outfit showcased a brand of football that was not only effective but also enthralling. After navigating past Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta, PSG geared up for their first-ever European semifinal. There, they defeated German side RB Leipzig in what was a one-legged affair due to global events.
In the final, PSG met another German side in the form of Bayern Munich, who had just battered Messi’s Barcelona by eight goals to two in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately for PSG, despite being heavily backed, it was the Bavarians who managed to walk away with the trophy thanks to a goal from former Paris man Kingsley Coman.
2020/21 – Déjà Vu Against Manchester City
The following season, 2020/21, PSG once again made deep inroads into the tournament. Demonstrating resilience and quality, PSG reached the semifinals, setting up a tantalizing clash with Manchester City, a rematch of the 2015/16 quarterfinals. History seemed to repeat itself as PSG were outclassed over two legs. A 2-1 defeat in Paris was followed by a 2-0 loss in Manchester, culminating in a 4-1 aggregate defeat.
PSG are now back at the quarterfinals stage for the first time since, and they will be looking to make sure their European tour doesn’t end here.
