The brilliance and sheer excitement provided by Luis Enrique and his PSG side was on full display last night.
What an incredible match, this 5-4 Champions League victory over Bayern Munich in the semi-final first leg.
A joy to watch as these two brilliant attacking teams put on such a show.
No doubt Amazon absolutely loving it as they had the rights to Tuesday night’s thriller, poor TNT Sports now left with Arsenal travelling to Atletico tonight and the borefest which will surely play out on our screens, if we can stay awake.
Luis Enrique and PSG have dominated the Champions League in recent times, semi-finalists in 2023/24, winners in 2024/25, very likely winners this time as well, either them or Bayern Munich surely.
PSG’s brand of all conquering attacking football having captivated European football audiences.
And yet…
Luis Enrique talking ahead of the 28 January 2026 1-1 draw in Paris against Eddie Howe’s side, exactly three months before last night’s 5-4 Bayern thriller: “We know Newcastle United because we have played them in recent years and it will be really tough. The goal for us is to qualify for the last 16 by winning against a very good Newcastle side. They have a very different style; they are brave and strong with lots of individual quality.”
Luis Enrique on the defensive when asked in November 2023 about the disgraceful decision to award the penalty against Tino Livramento that saved PSG from defeat against Newcastle United: ‘This is football, it is not basketball. I am not dedicated to looking at the VAR, my job is to coach my team.”
Luis Enrique in October 2023 after Newcastle United had inflicted the 4-1 hiding over PSG, the biggest defeat for them in the Champions League under their Qatari ownership: “These are difficult games to live through for a manager…I sincerely think the result is a bit unfair… but not totally. Congratulations to Newcastle. They played very good football.”
The idea that Eddie Howe is suddenly some clueless dope that isn’t up to the job at Newcastle United…I bet Luis Enrique and so many other top managers in European football would be astonished at the fact that a very vocal minority of Newcastle fans are now desperate to force Eddie Howe out.
Last night it was referenced on TV that this Bayern match is the first time since St James’ Park in October 2023 when PSG have conceded four in a match.
I also very much doubt that any team has faced PSG three or more times in recent seasons and the French side failing to score more than one goal in any of the matches. When you consider as well that both games in Paris saw PSG awarded ridiculous penalties against Newcastle, penalties that make last night’s one awarded against Bayern almost a decent decision!!
And another thing…these have been the Champions League results across the last three seasons when PSG have played Premier League clubs.
2025/26 PSG Champions League results against English clubs:
Liverpool 0 PSG 4 (on aggregate)
Chelsea 2 PSG 8 (on aggregate)
PSG 1 Newcastle 1
PSG 5 Tottenham 3
2024/25 PSG Champions League results against English clubs:
Arsenal 1 PSG 3 (on aggregate)
Aston Villa 4 PSG 5 (on aggregate)
Liverpool 1 PSG 1 (on aggregate, PSG win 4-1 on penalties)
PSG 4 Man City 2
Arsenal 2 PSG 0
2023/24 PSG Champions League results against English clubs:
PSG 1 Newcastle 1
Newcastle 4 PSG 1
Here’s to the next time Eddie Howe and Newcastle United face PSG and Luis Enrique…