Paris Saint-Germain won this 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy by winning against AS Monaco this Sunday in Doha (1-0).
Usually, the new year often begins in a rural atmosphere, when you have to set the table again after having gorged yourself during the holidays, but the tradition has been broken this season. For Paris Saint-Germain, entry into the Coupe de France took place at the end of 2024, in Lens. Place for the Champions Trophy.
We will have understood: the charm of the cup has therefore been replaced by the lure of a title. No simple potato field against a bunch of amateurs playing the match of their lives, but another form of exoticism, in distant lands and a nocturnal atmosphere, in Doha, in front of the Emir, for a PSG -Monaco whose considerations were as much sporting as economic.
On the green rectangle, this PSG-Monaco was above all a remake of
spectacular and choppy shock which animated the end of the year on the Rock, in Ligue 1, a month ago, with an authoritarian victory for the Parisians (4-2). Luis Enrique’s approach has not changed. The Spaniard remains reluctant to rely on a professional 9, despite the ratio and the impeccable state of mind of Gonçalo Ramos. Paris started this final with a Doué-Dembélé-Lee attack, in a moving animation where the confusing Hakimi still had a key role.
A PSG still well oiled
We can criticize PSG for many things this season, but we must still emphasize the steamroller impression of the Parisians, with and without the ball. Luis Enrique made it a Team with a capital E. By settling into the Monegasque camp to stifle their opponent from the start of the match, the French champions once again demonstrated great collective mastery, multiplying interesting situations in a first act dominated in great widths.
Gifted, confident, brought verticality; Dembélé, completely free, made big differences, and Lee tried to silence the skeptics by trying his luck – without success (44th). Opposite, the Monegasques even struggled to cross the halfway line for a good half hour, before raising their voice before half-time under the leadership of Akliouche, in particular, still technically classy, who tested Donnarumma (40th). But the tactical discipline of the Parisians left them only crumbs in this first period, with this counter-pressing which cut off the actions at the source.
Monaco has raised its voice but Paris remains untouchable
We had to wait until the locker room returned to see Monaco take the second. Higher, more enterprising, Adi Hütter’s players had a real highlight. Well served by Vanderson, Ben Seghir came up against Donnarumma (53rd), while the same Vanderson saw his attempt crash into the post in the process (54th). But Paris was not left out, and the Dembélé-Hakimi duo continued to pose a threat (52nd), 55th). To make these good intentions bear fruit, Luis Enrique had cartridges on his bench. The Spaniard threw Barcola, Ramos, Ruiz and Mayulu, when the smell of the knockout began to hang in the air of Doha. Winning coaching.
While Achraf Hakimi continued to thrill the spectators with his breakthroughs into the area, the matter was finally settled at the finish. After final feats from the Monegasque goalkeeper, notably against Ramos (89th), Dembélé, forgotten at the far post on a beautiful cake from Ruiz on the eve of the Epiphany, delivered his own by straightening the leather in the empty goal ( 1-0, 90th+2). A logical outcome after a match with 28 shots and 60% possession for a diligent PSG.
The great European passes are looming on the horizon, and the rest will tell us whether these Parisians breathe as well at high altitude, but at this stage of history, the copy is clean. By winning the 13th Champions Trophy in its history, this PSG version of Luis Enrique continues its harvest of national titles. HAS the dawn of an exciting and busy year, this is an important first marker.
