Champions League quarter-final first leg: Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool facts

For the second season running, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool meet in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds with the holders looking for a repeat of their round of 16 success in 2024/25.

After finishing 11th in the league phase, Paris came through an all-French knockout phase play-off for the second season in succession, beating Monaco 5-4 on aggregate (3-2 a, 2-2 h), before overcoming Chelsea in the round of 16 (5-2 h, 3-0 a).

Liverpool were third in the league phase and eliminated Galatasaray in the last 16 (0-1 a, 4-0 h).

Last match

Paris prevailed 4-1 on penalties after each side had won 1-0 away in last season's round of 16, Harvey Elliott scoring the only goal of the first leg at Parc des Princes and Ousmane Dembélé doing the same at Anfield.

That was the sides' second knockout contest and Paris' second aggregate victory – they also prevailed 3-2 on aggregate in the 1996/97 Cup Winners' Cup semi finals (3-0 h, 0-2 a).

The teams were also paired together in the 2018/19 Champions League group stage, Liverpool winning 3-2 at Anfield before a 2-1 Paris success at the Parc des Princes.

The second-leg win at Chelsea in this season's round of 16 made it seven games unbeaten against Premier League clubs for Paris, who have lost only one of their last ten matches (W7 D2).

At home it is four wins in Paris' last five games against English visitors (D1).

Paris have won their last four two-legged ties against English clubs. In addition to overcoming Chelsea this season, they beat Liverpool in last season's round of 16, Aston Villa in the quarter-finals (3-1 h, 2-3 a) and Arsenal in the semi-finals (1-0 a, 2-1 h).

Liverpool have won seven of their last 11 matches against French teams (D1 L3), most recently 3-0 at Marseille on Matchday 7.

The Reds have won five of their nine knockout ties against Ligue 1 teams.

None of Liverpool's 36 matches against French teams finished goalless.

Paris

This is Paris' 18th campaign in the Champions League proper. They have featured every season since 2012/13, reaching the knockout stages in the last 14 campaigns.

Fifteenth in last season's league phase (W4 D1 L3), Luis Enrique's side beat Brest (10-0 aggregate), Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal to reach the showpiece in Munich, where their 5-0 win against Inter was the biggest final victory in European Cup history.

Liverpool 

This is Liverpool's 17th Champions League campaign; they have reached the final five times, lifting the trophy in 2005 and 2019.

The Merseysiders were first in last season's league phase (W7 L1) but went out to eventual champions Paris in the round of 16.

Key stats

This is Paris' tenth European Cup quarter-final – all in the Champions League era. Last season's win against Aston Villa was their fourth in a row and their fifth overall.

Paris have won their last six two-legged Champions League ties.

Enrique's side have lost only two of their last 16 European matches (W10 D4) and only two of their last 13 in the Champions League knockout phase (W10 D1).

This is Paris' 61st match in the Champions League knockout phase; they have yet to feature in a goalless draw.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has scored in Paris' last three Champions League matches, four goals in all.

Aged 20 years 31 days, Warren Zaïre Emery could become the youngest player to make 40 Champions League appearances; the record is held by Jude Bellingham (21 years 164 days).

Liverpool are in their 18th European Cup quarter final, one short of Manchester United's English record. They have won 12 of their previous 17, most recently beating Benfica 6-4 on aggregate in 2021/22 (3-1 a, 3-3 h).

The Merseyside club have won six of their last eight Champions League quarter-final ties.

Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in their last five Champions League matches.

None of the Reds' last 51 European games finished 0-0, since they drew at home to Real Madrid in the 2020/21 Champions League quarter final second leg.

Liverpool have won 16 of their last 21 European matches (L5).

Mohamed Salah's goal in the round of 16 second leg made him the first African player to reach 50 in the Champions League.

Dominik Szoboszlai has scored in five of his last eight Champions League appearances.