How PSG got the better of English teams in this season’s Champions League

Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique joked about a club from the “league of farmers” being in the Champions League final after victory over Arsenal.

Ligue 1 is regularly derided for being a one-team league – PSG’s title win this season was their 11th in the last 13 years – but they have dispatched four Premier League teams in setting up a meeting with Inter Milan in Munich later this month.

“The league of farmers, no? We are the league of farmers,” Enrique told TNT Sports. “It’s nice. Now we are enjoying not only the results but also the compliments of everybody speaking about our team.”

Here the PA news agency looks at their impressive run against English teams.

PSG 4-2 Manchester City (League stage)

PSG exposed City’s inconsistencies this season with a thrilling attacking performance which has become a trademark of their European campaign. City’s lead through Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland early after the break glossed over a first half they were lucky to negotiate without conceding. Ousmane Dembele’s introduction at the interval changed the game as their best player of 2025 ripped City apart with his pace and he and the equally-outstanding Bradley Barcola levelled things up, the impressive Joao Neves put them ahead and Goncalo Ramos’ added-time goal gave the scoreline a fairer reflection.

Liverpool 1-1 PSG on aggregate, PSG won 4-1 on penalties (last 16)

PSG could barely believe they lost the home first leg, having battered the soon-to-be Premier League champions at the Parc des Princes. At Anfield the energetic visitors began with a point to prove and it was again Dembele’s direct running which caused problems, scoring a tap-in from Barcola’s deflected cross. The pair, together with winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, continued to cause problems and could have won it in extra time before holding their nerve for the penalties.

Aston Villa 4-5 PSG on aggregate (quarter-final)

Kvaratskhelia was the stand-out performer in the first leg in Paris, scoring a brilliant goal early in the second half after Desire Doure had, just before the break, cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ opener. Nuno Mendes’ added-time strike saw the shot count finish 29 to seven to underline PSG’s attacking dominance. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was the star at Villa Park as the hosts launched a thrilling fightback from 2-0 down on the night, producing three crucial second-half saves with the tie on the line.

PSG 3-1 Arsenal on aggregate (semi-final)

Dembele scored an important goal at the Emirates but Donnarumma began to show his importance in the later stages with saves from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Donnarumma’s influence continued to grow in the second leg but, with Dembele on the bench, it was Kvaratskhelia who took the game to the Gunners and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi only came after their goalkeeper had made important saves from Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.