Three Times PSG Collapsed on the Grand Stage in the Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain knows heartbreak. Time and again, they have flirted with European glory, only to crumble under the weight of expectation. They have assembled world-class squads, dazzled in group-stage matches, and inspired hope—only for it all to come crashing down on the biggest nights.

March 11, 2025, felt different. PSG walked into Anfield with history weighing on their shoulders, but for once, they rewrote the script. Liverpool’s famous Kop End roared, their players threw everything forward, yet Luis Enrique’s side held firm. It wasn’t just a battle of skill—it was a war of endurance.

Ibrahima Konaté’s misplaced pass gifted Ousmane Dembélé the simplest of finishes. A cruel twist for Liverpool, a lifeline for PSG. Extra time dragged on, nerves frayed, but in the shootout, Gianluigi Donnarumma stood tall. He defied history, stopping shots as if preordained to do so. Against all odds, PSG triumphed in a penalty shootout, something Liverpool had almost made an art form.

But Paris has been here before—on the brink of greatness—only to falter when it mattered most. Their past is littered with collapses, with nights that promised so much yet ended in despair. Here are three of their most infamous failures on the grandest stage.

La Remontada: Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain (2017)

There are comebacks, and then there is La Remontada. This wasn’t just a turnaround—it was footballing history, an event so monumental it demanded its own name.

PSG arrived at the Camp Nou in 2017 with one foot in the quarter-finals. A 4-0 win in the first leg had seemingly put the tie beyond Barcelona’s reach. But football has a cruel sense of humor.

In the opening minutes, Luis Suárez’s header set the tone. Layvin Kurzawa’s own goal made it worse. Lionel Messi’s penalty piled on the panic. And when Edinson Cavani fired in what should have been the killer blow, PSG thought they had weathered the storm.

Then came Neymar. A free-kick curled into the net. A penalty calmly converted. Suddenly, Barcelona needed just one more goal. And in the dying seconds, Neymar floated a perfect ball into the box. Sergi Roberto stretched, connected, and the Camp Nou erupted into chaos.

Barcelona had become the first team in Champions League history to overturn a four-goal deficit. PSG had collapsed in the most spectacular fashion. The humiliation was complete.

2019: Rashford’s Ice-Cold Penalty Stuns Paris

There are certain defeats that linger long after the final whistle. PSG’s exit at the hands of Manchester United in 2019 is one of them.

Neymar watched from the stands, believing—like everyone else—that PSG had done enough. A 2-0 first-leg win at Old Trafford had all but secured their passage. But Manchester United had other plans.

Romelu Lukaku pounced on two defensive errors to put United ahead. PSG, shaken but still in control, responded through Juan Bernat. They were holding on, counting down the minutes. And then, in the 90th minute, chaos.

Diogo Dalot took a speculative shot. The ball struck Presnel Kimpembe’s outstretched arm. Silence. Then the referee pointed to the spot after a lengthy VAR check.

Marcus Rashford stepped up. It was his first-ever penalty in a competitive match for United. The pressure was immense, but the strike was unerring. The ball rocketed past Buffon. United had done the unthinkable. PSG, once again, had thrown it all away.

2014: Paris Stunned on the Bridge

Some nights in football feel like they belong to one man. On April 8, 2014, Stamford Bridge belonged to José Mourinho.

Chelsea needed a miracle after losing 3-1 in Paris. Against a PSG side filled with stars—Zlatan Ibrahimović, Edinson Cavani, and Thiago Silva—it seemed an impossible task. But when André Schürrle smashed home a first-half volley, belief surged through the stadium.

For 86 minutes, PSG clung on. Then, in a moment of pure instinct, Demba Ba struck. The ball ricocheted inside the box, and Ba reacted first, bundling it over the line. The Bridge exploded. Mourinho sprinted down the touchline, fists pumping—another unforgettable night for the Special One, another gut-wrenching failure for PSG.

A Club Haunted by Its Past

PSG have built empires, signed superstars, and dreamed of European glory. But history keeps repeating itself. They have seen triumph within their grasp, only to let it slip through their fingers.

The win at Anfield in 2024 was a statement—a rare moment where they defied their past demons. But until they finally lift the Champions League trophy, the ghosts of La Remontada, Rashford’s penalty, and Mourinho’s Chelsea will forever haunt them.

The question remains: can PSG ever truly conquer Europe, or are they destined to be the team that always falls short?