In a thrilling 2024-25 UEFA Champions League League Phase match, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a 1-0 victory over Girona. The match took place at the Parc des Princes, where the French champions dominated most of the game, only to win in the final minutes thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Girona’s goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga. This was Girona’s debut in the competition, and despite their defensive efforts, PSG’s relentless attacks ultimately paid off, giving them the crucial three points.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Head-to-Head
This was the first-ever UEFA Champions League meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona, setting the stage for a dramatic contest. PSG, led by manager Luis Enrique, came into the match with high expectations. Girona, despite being underdogs, displayed a strong defensive structure, keeping the French giants at bay for most of the game. However, the relentless pressure from PSG proved too much for the Catalonian side to handle.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Lineups
Here are the Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona lineups today (Sep 18, 2024)
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3):
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos (C), Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes
- Midfielders: Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, Warren Zaïre-Emery
- Forwards: Ousmane Dembélé, Marco Asensio, Bradley Barcola
Substitutes:
- Randal Kolo Muani (replaced Asensio, 39’)
- João Neves (replaced Fabián Ruiz, 63’)
- Désiré Doué (replaced Barcola, 63’)
- Lee Kang-In (replaced Vitinha, 63’)
- Beraldo (replaced Dembélé, 90+2’)
Girona (4-4-2):
- Goalkeeper: Paulo Gazzaniga
- Defenders: Arnau Martínez, Ladislav Krejcí, David López, Miguel Gutiérrez
- Midfielders: Viktor Tsyhankov, Iván Martín, Oriol Romeu, Bryan Gil
- Forwards: Cristhian Stuani, Donny van de Beek
Substitutes:
- Portu (replaced Stuani, 58’)
- Arnaut Danjuma (replaced van de Beek, 58’)
- Yáser Asprilla (replaced Bryan Gil, 66’)
- Jhon Solís (replaced Iván Martín, 66’)
- Alejandro Francés (replaced Tsyhankov, 88’)
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona First Half
PSG started the game on the front foot, dictating possession and pushing Girona deep into their own half. Despite PSG’s dominance, Girona’s defensive discipline prevented any clear-cut chances for the hosts. Marco Asensio came closest to breaking the deadlock for PSG, with a low shot narrowly missing the bottom corner. Unfortunately for PSG, Asensio had to be substituted due to an injury in the 39th minute, making way for Randal Kolo Muani.
Girona’s defense remained resilient, with Ladislav Krejcí making a crucial last-ditch tackle on Ousmane Dembélé, preserving the goalless scoreline. At the end of the first half, PSG had 13 shots to Girona’s two but could not convert their opportunities, leaving the score 0-0.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Second Half
The second half saw more of the same as PSG relentlessly attacked Girona’s goal. Dembélé was PSG’s most dangerous player, hitting the post with a curling effort, while Kolo Muani and Achraf Hakimi both came close to scoring. Gazzaniga, who had been solid throughout the game, made several important saves to deny PSG.
However, the match took a dramatic turn in stoppage time. Nuno Mendes whipped in a low cross, which seemed routine for Gazzaniga to handle. To the horror of the Girona bench, the ball slipped through the goalkeeper’s legs and into the net, handing PSG a late 1-0 victory.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Stats
| Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Stats | PSG | Girona |
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Total Shots | 26 | 3 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 1 |
| Possession (%) | 71% | 29% |
| Pass Accuracy (%) | 89% | 75% |
| Fouls | 15 | 18 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corners | 7 | 1 |
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Timeline
- 20’: Ladislav Krejcí (Girona) booked for a foul on Dembélé.
- 39’: Marco Asensio (PSG) replaced by Randal Kolo Muani due to injury.
- 43’: Oriol Romeu (Girona) shown a yellow card.
- 45’: First half ends, 0-0.
- 58’: Girona substitutes Portu and Danjuma enter for Stuani and van de Beek.
- 66’: Yáser Asprilla and Jhon Solís come on for Girona.
- 72’: João Neves misses a chance for PSG, with a shot going wide.
- 88’: Gazzaniga suffers an injury but continues.
- 90’: Own goal by Paulo Gazzaniga (Girona), Paris Saint-Germain 1, Girona 0.
- 90+2’: Beraldo replaces Dembélé for PSG.
- 90+5’: Final whistle, Paris Saint-Germain 1, Girona 0.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Impact on Points Table
With this victory, Paris Saint-Germain claimed all three points, moving to the top of their group in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League League Phase. Girona, on the other hand, remain at the bottom with zero points after their debut game.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona Man of the Match
While it was an own goal that decided the game, Ousmane Dembélé was PSG’s standout performer. His pace and dribbling created numerous opportunities for his team, and he was unlucky not to score. His persistence kept Girona’s defense on edge throughout the match.
Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 win over Girona may have come in dramatic fashion, but it showcased their dominance and ability to grind out results. While Gazzaniga’s mistake cost Girona a valuable point, they can take pride in their defensive resilience on their Champions League debut. PSG will need to be more clinical in future matches if they aim to go far in this competition, but this win provides a strong foundation.
