Farmers' League thrives in the Champions League: All-French clash looms for proud PSG

Paris Saint-Germain has officially secured its place in the Champions League play-offs, putting an emphatic end to any lingering doubts with a commanding 4-1 victory over Stuttgart.

The night belonged to Ousmane Dembélé, who delivered a sensational performance, netting a hat-trick that propelled the French champions to a much-needed win. It was a result that solidified PSG’s resurgence in the competition, following a rocky start that had put their European hopes in jeopardy. After the match, head coach Luis Enrique expressed his relief and satisfaction with the way his team had turned things around. He admitted that PSG had faced a difficult draw and struggled early in the tournament, but he praised the team’s resilience and ability to fight for points when it mattered most. His words reflected the determination PSG has shown in recent weeks, bouncing back from early setbacks to finish the group stage in strong form.

The journey to this point had been far from smooth for the Parisians. Early defeats to Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, and Bayern Munich, coupled with a frustrating draw against PSV, had left them with just four points from their opening matches. At that stage, many doubted whether PSG would even make it out of the group, with critics suggesting that their long-standing Champions League ambitions were once again crumbling. However, something changed in the latter half of the group stage. A dominant 3-0 win against Red Bull Salzburg was followed by an impressive 4-2 triumph over Manchester City. The final hurdle was Stuttgart, and with Dembélé leading the charge, PSG made sure there was no slip-up this time. The confidence that had seemed shaken earlier in the campaign had been fully restored, and the team played with the conviction expected of a club of their stature.

For club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the recent turnaround has been particularly satisfying. Throughout the group stage struggles, he maintained his belief in the squad and coaching staff, even when PSG had only four points from their first few games. Now, with qualification secured, he could reflect on the team’s ability to respond under pressure. His faith in the players and Luis Enrique now seems justified, as PSG emerges as a much more confident and effective unit just at the right moment. Their late resurgence has also reignited belief within the squad that they can finally mount a serious challenge for the Champions League title a trophy that has remained elusive despite years of investment and ambition since the club’s high-profile takeover by Qatar Sports Investments.

There is a renewed sense of optimism around PSG’s European campaign, and their recent form suggests they could be a genuine threat in the knockout rounds. Al-Khelaïfi spoke with pride about how many people had written them off, only for the team to prove their resilience. He particularly praised the attacking approach in recent matches, as PSG has rediscovered the fluid and dynamic style of play that has defined them in past seasons. With Kylian Mbappé continuing to be the team’s main reference point in attack and Dembélé stepping up at the perfect time, the French champions appear to be hitting their stride just when it matters most.

Beyond PSG, the success of French clubs in this year’s Champions League has been a major talking point. Ligue 1, often dismissed as a "Farmers' League" by critics, has seen four of its clubs advance to the final 24 teams in the competition, equaling England’s Premier League in representation. It is a statement for French football, one that has not gone unnoticed. Lille has already secured its place in the round of 16, while PSG, Stade Brest, and AS Monaco will now compete in the play-offs, guaranteeing that at least one all-French clash will take place in the next phase. Al-Khelaïfi described this as a historic moment for Ligue 1, emphasizing how important it is for the league’s reputation that its clubs are performing at such a high level in Europe.

Brest, despite suffering a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid, managed to qualify for the play-offs and now faces the possibility of playing against either PSG or Benfica. Their success has been one of the surprises of the tournament, and within the squad, there is already debate over who they would prefer to face. Midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou was clear about his preference after the match, joking that it would be frustrating to face PSG again, as they already play against them regularly in Ligue 1. He admitted that playing Benfica would be a more exciting challenge, as it would offer a new test rather than another meeting with the French champions. His words reflected a wider sentiment among some of Ligue 1’s clubs, who see the Champions League as an opportunity to compete against foreign teams rather than continue facing familiar domestic opponents.

While there is a sense of celebration over how PSG finished the group stage, there is also an understanding that the real challenges are still to come. The draw for the play-offs will be crucial, and even though PSG will be favorites against either Brest or Monaco, they cannot afford to underestimate any opponent at this stage of the tournament. Luis Enrique will be keen to continue refining his team’s approach, particularly in defense, where they have shown vulnerabilities throughout the group stage. PSG conceded goals in nearly every match, something that will need to be addressed if they are to make a deep run in the competition. However, if they can maintain their attacking momentum and improve their defensive organization, they have the potential to go far.

For now, PSG can take satisfaction in having silenced their critics, proving that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League. From a position of uncertainty, they have fought their way back into contention. The question now is whether they can maintain this level in the knockout rounds and finally achieve what has long been their ultimate goal—lifting the Champions League trophy.