On Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 against Newcastle in Matchday 8 of the 2025-2026 Champions League at the Parc des Princes. Here are the highs and lows of this match, which sends PSG to the playoffs.
Highs –
❤️ Achraf Hakimi and João Neves returned to action.
Achraf Hakimi, the 24-year-old right-back, and João Neves, the 21-year-old midfielder, both returned to the PSG lineup tonight and were even in the starting eleven. They weren’t brilliant, but it’s already a positive sign to see them back.
Lows –
😡 A huge waste.
PSG had a very good start in the Champions League and seemed poised to finish near the top. Ultimately, only one win was needed from the last three matches, against Athletic Bilbao, Sporting Lisbon, and Newcastle. Paris dominated each time but missed a plethora of chances, conceding several goals that seemed entirely avoidable. Paris needed to secure the win but failed too often.
Kvaratskhelia’s injury.
It’s just bad luck, yet again this season, and it’s becoming infuriating. Anthony Elanga’s challenge wasn’t even malicious, but it caught the 24-year-old striker’s ankle, forcing him to leave the field with difficulty. We’ll have to wait to learn the exact nature of his injury, but we can already expect him to be out for several weeks.
Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé: the magic is gone.
Their talent is still there, but it’s far less evident than in the second half of the 2025-2026 season. It’s been a unique summer, with injuries; all it takes is a spark. But they’re less incisive, less accurate in their decision-making, less precise in their actions. Just like Dembélé’s penalty that was saved.
