FEATURE | Why have PSG been so successful against Premier League sides on their run to the Champions League final? | OneFootball

Following a disappointing showing in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, not many would have predicted that PSG would have gone on to reach the final. During the league phase, Les Parisiens were comfortably beaten by Arsenal – outmuscled by the players and outthought by Mikel Arteta. Fans of the Ligue 1 champions would have argued that the match at the Emirates was an unfair reflection of the match, with the French club enjoying more shots and more possession. However, the sheer physicality and clinical edge in front of goal saw the Gunners prevail.

Since that defeat to the North London side, Luis Enrique’s team have enjoyed a revolutionary upturn in form which has seen them deploy an air of confidence and dominance, especially when facing up against Premier League teams. In addition to beating Manchester City towards the league phase, PSG have faced a Premier League outfit in the Round of 16 (Liverpool), quarter-finals (Aston Villa) and semi-finals (Arsenal), and triumphed on all three occasions.

The question remains, why have PSG been so successful against Premier League teams, and how will this fare them in the final?

Making midfield dominance count

As is customary with a team managed by Luis Enrique, PSG have enjoyed a healthy share of the possession throughout their run to the final. Nevertheless, as was the case in their league phase game against Arsenal, possession was a vain stat, Les Parisiens created chances, but were unable to take them.

Technicality is one of the biggest compliments given to the Premier League, but against Luis Enrique, teams from the English top flight have been taken by surprise. Liverpool, who were favourites to win the competition, were taken by surprise by PSG’s sheer dominance on the ball. If it weren’t for Alisson Becker producing one of the greatest goalkeeping performances the competition has ever seen, Les Parisiens could have been out of sight.

Against the Premier League champions in the first leg, PSG mustered 27 shots and enjoyed 71% of the share of the possession, but lost 1-0, thanks to a late Harvey Elliott goal.

In the 5 matches against Premier League sides, the plan has remained the same – dominate the ball in midfield and use overloads to create chances. Facing Aston Villa in the first leg of the quarter-finals, PSG looked far more clinical. Scoring three goals and taking the sting out of Villa Park by dominating the ball against a more pragmatic approach from Unai Emery.

The scoreline is the only stat that counts, and after an improvement in prolificacy, PSG have turned their technical dominance into a tangible advantage.

Finding a way to win & renewed determination

Although they’ve prevailed in their last 3 meetings against Premier League sides, the Ligue 1 champions have lost three times against English teams this season. PSG suffered a major setback against Liverpool, despite dominating, a late sucker punch was thrown as the Reds scored with their first shot on target. However, the atmosphere surrounding PSG was that they still believed that they would be able to go to Anfield and win – they did just that.

The return leg at Anfield was a more even match-up, PSG were allowed less possession, but survived periods of dominance from the Merseyside outfit and prevailed on penalties. Similarly against Aston Villa, despite it looking easy at times, Luis Enrique’s men had to survive a fight-back in the second leg as the Birmingham outfit scored three goals in 20 minutes to go within one goal of levelling the tie. Instead of buckling under pressure, Les Parisiens’ boss was able to rally his troops and resort to faultless game management by managing the game through retaining possession.

Add in a well-managed knockout competition performance against Arsenal, who were flying high after knocking out Real Madrid, while not always being convincing, PSG have adopted a dogged mentality and shown they’re able to thrive under adversity.

Big moments from big players

This season’s run to the final has seen an external declaration to the “bling era” at Les Parisiens and a rapturous ovation for the way the club is now run under the supervision of Luis Campos and Luis Enrique. Whilst this is true, and there is less focus on recruiting big names in favour of players who suit the tactical ideology of the former Barcelona boss, it doesn’t mean that the Ligue 1 champions haven’t been forced to rely on big moments and performances from individuals.

Ousmane Dembélé – The French international has been reborn since Luis Enrique made the decision to move him into a more central role as the focal point in PSG’s attack. Emerging as the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, which has no doubt been buoyed by Les Parisiens’ run to the final, Dembélé has been the difference for the French club on more than one occasion.

In the Round of 16, with Anfield roaring, the former Barcelona attacker was able to silence the home crowd with an early goal – providing the platform for his side to win on penalties. Away at the Emirates, Dembélé thrived once again in the role of spoiler. With Arsenal fans in party mood, the 26-year-old stunned the home faithful with a precise finish inside 4 minutes.

Gianluigi Donnarumma – During the second leg against Aston Villa, three goals inside twenty minutes could have easily had a destabilising effect on the French champions. However, Les Parisiens’ Italian stopper had other ideas, with his side thirty minutes away from a UEFA Champions League semi-final. Donnarumma made three crucial saves to keep PSG’s slender advantage intact.

With finals often decided on the tightest of margins or in one moment, PSG may be forced to look for another big individual performance if they are to become only the second French team to lift Europe’s most prestigious competition.

GFFN | Liam Wraith