A round-up of the French media reaction to Liverpool's elimination from the Champions League at the hands of PSG
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Players of Liverpool look dejected after losing a penalty shoot out in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on March 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain and the French media were bullish about their chances ahead of Tuesday night's clash with Liverpool in the Champions League. So the tone of the coverage following the Parisians' win is no surprise.
The French champions eventually overcame the Reds at Anfield in a penalty shootout after Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones saw their spot kicks saved. Ousmane Dembele's early goal had given PSG a 1-0 win on the night, levelling up the tie 1-1 on aggregate.
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The loss is a blow for Liverpool, although with the Premier League title virtually secured and a Carabao Cup final on the horizon, there is much to comfort themselves with. PSG meanwhile will take on Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the quarter-finals as they continue their search for a maiden European Cup.
Here is a flavour of the coverage from France after a thrilling night of football at Anfield.
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L'Equipe
The notoriously harsh French newspaper handed Gianluigi Donnarumma the Player of the Match in their ratings, giving the Italian a score of nine out of ten. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah were the lowest ranked for the Reds with grades of four out of 10.
"Overall Salah was annihilated, as in the first leg, by Nuno Mendes, losing a considerable number of duels against him," read a section of the L'Equipe analysis.
"In addition, the ex-Roma player, who lost possession 31 times (his team's record), also stood out for his inability to properly exploit counter-attacks initiated by his team-mates.
"Even if he converted his shot on goal, the Pharaoh's record is therefore largely insufficient in his confrontations against PSG, the team he has faced the most in his Champions League career without ever finding the goal."
RMC Sport
"PSG secured a historic qualification for the Champions League round of 16 away to Liverpool on Tuesday.
"This stunning victory came on March 11th, five years after the victory against Dortmund behind closed doors at the Parc des Princes and ten years after the victory over Chelsea thanks to a Thiago Silva header. Enough to make this date a new lucky charm for the Parisians.
"Returning to the locker room, sporting his khaki down jacket and blue tracksuit bottoms, Marquinhos burst into joy at Anfield on Tuesday evening. The PSG captain savoured his team's historic qualification at Liverpool's home ground, after a memorable double-header that ended in a penalty shootout.
"After a few hugs, the Brazilian defender approached a camera from the capital club and said with a big smile: "March 11th, it's March 11th!"
Le Parisien
"Kids in a playground. While the Reds' supporters were eager to applaud their fallen heroes in style, the Parisian fury was simultaneously sweeping across Anfield, just outside the crowded PSG stadium.
"It was 10:42 p.m. (local time), the atmosphere in Liverpool was chilly, but the red and blue hearts were warm. One by one, players and staff members immediately ran towards their 3,000 fans to savor a legendary victory (0-1, 1-4 on penalties), after a night of drunkenness and a spectacular penalty shootout.
"With broad smiles on their faces, Desire Doue and Warren Zaire-Emery were the first to be swept away by the cluster of supporters who had just deserted the stands to embrace them at the edge of the pitch. Willian Pacho, Lucas Hernandez, and Presnel Kimpembe launched into a few fiery dance moves, while Ousmane Dembele proudly displayed his PSG crest.
"Not far away, Achraf Hakimi, in toreador mode, waved a PSG flag, to the boos of the small crowd that remained in their seats."
Le Monde
"They did it. Beaten in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 by Liverpool (0-1), the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) players managed to turn the situation around on Tuesday, March 11, on the Reds' pitch during the return match.
"In the boiling atmosphere at Anfield, Luis Enrique's men managed to snatch their qualification for the next round of the European football competition after the penalty shootout (1-4).
"After being dominated in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, the English side hoped the second half would be different. It was, but not as expected. This time, both teams created chances.
"However, the game went their way, with some playmaking in the Parisians' favor, including some out-of-bounds posts, and a bit of luck, until the penalty shootout was drawn, giving them the chance to shoot in front of their 3,000 supporters and not in front of the Kop."