Dembélé double sinks Liverpool as PSG reach Champions League semi-finals

Ousmane Dembélé struck twice in the final 20 minutes at Anfield on Tuesday night as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2–0 second-leg victory over Liverpool, sealing their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 UEFA Champions League with a 4–0 aggregate win.

The France international had earlier endured a frustrating first leg at the Parc des Princes, where he squandered three clear opportunities despite PSG’s 2–0 win in Paris.

However, he made amends in emphatic fashion on a rain-soaked night in north-west England, producing a decisive second-half display to settle the tie.

The breakthrough arrived in the 72nd minute when Dembélé latched onto a pass from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the edge of the Liverpool penalty area. He deceived Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister with a feint to shoot on his right foot before shifting the ball onto his left and curling a precise effort beyond goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The goal extended PSG’s aggregate lead to 3–0 and effectively ended Liverpool’s hopes of a comeback.

Dembélé added a second deep into stoppage time, completing a personal brace and sealing PSG’s 4–0 aggregate triumph.

Speaking after the match, he told French broadcaster Canal+: “We knew it was going to be difficult. You have to work hard to reach the latter stages of this competition.

“We had chances in the first half and they really came at us in the second half. It was very tough, but we have come away with two wins and a place in the semi-finals.”

PSG, who famously defeated Inter Milan 5–0 in the 2025 Champions League final, will now face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the last four.

The two sides meet in their quarter-final second leg on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena, with Bayern holding a 2–1 advantage from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid progressed to the semi-finals after a 3–2 aggregate victory over Barcelona on Tuesday night.

They will face either Arsenal or Sporting CP, with Arsenal carrying a 1–0 advantage into their second-leg tie at the Emirates Stadium.