One more year. Paris Saint-Germain was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League due to Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals and will spend at least one more year without being able to fulfill his greatest obsession.
Broad dominator of Ligue 1, where for years he has accumulated titles almost uninterruptedlythe Champions League is for PSG like that only toy that the rich kid cannot own.
Year after year, with the power of money, he builds large teams. Choose renowned technicians. He goes out of his way to ensure that his stars do not go away. Everything, absolutely everything, with Orejona as the only real objective.
But he can not.
It was close in the 2019/2020 edition, when it was runner-up in a curious Champions League -Due to the pandemic, the quarterfinals and semi-finals were a single match- after losing the final 1-0 with Bayern Munich.
He did not return to a definition.
Here, a review of his latest frustrations
Champions League 2017-2018: eliminated in the round of 16
With Neymar and Mbappé as their new figures, the Parisian team was scary. They won their group, above Bayern Munich, but disappointment came quickly.
It was Real Madrid’s turn in the round of 16 and ended up losing the series by an aggregate result of 5-2, after a 3-1 defeat in the first leg and a 2-1 loss at home in the second leg.
Champions League 2018-2019: out in the round of 16 again
With its stars already established, everything was hope. Again she started at full steam and conquered his group, above Liverpool. The draw this time was benign, since it was a devalued Manchester United in the round of 16.
They won 2-0 at Old Trafford and everything seemed on track, but the revenge, in France, was a nightmare. They lost 3-1 and were left out due to having fewer away goals, something that still counted at that time.
Champions League 2019-2020: the year that was closest
As we mentioned above, in an atypical Champions League and with Neymar as the great banner, they lost 1-0 in the final against Bayern Munich.
Champions League 2020-2021: eliminated by City in the semis
With a thirst for revenge, PSG started a new adventure. They advanced as the leader of their area and then eliminated Barcelona in the round of 16 and in the quarterfinals none other than their executioner from the previous edition: Bayern Munich.
But the semi-finals arrived and in front of them was a Manchester City team that was also accumulating frustrations in the Champions League. Among giants in need of this title, the English prevailed, winning the first leg 2-0 and the return leg 2-1.
Champions League 2021-2022: home in the round of 16
Perhaps the most painful of all, because for this edition, Neymar and Mbappé had been joined by Lionel Messi. Also because of the way they were left out.
They advanced as second in their group and it was Real Madrid’s turn in the first round of the playoffs.
PSG won the first leg, in Paris, 1-0. And by halftime of the second leg, they were winning 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu (the overall score at that time was 2-0).
But a brilliant Benzema appeared to score a hat trick and turn the game and series around.
Champions League 2022-2023: out again in the round of 16 despite the ‘Dream Team’
Still with Neymar, Mbappé and Messi on the squad, Bayern Munich was their executioner again. This time, in the round of 16 and with a global result of 3-0, after beating them 1-0 in France and 2-0 in Germany
