In the sixth round of the UEFA Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain hosted Athletic Bilbao at home, with both sides eventually settling for a 0–0 draw. Following the match, PSG remain five points behind league leaders Arsenal in the standings.
Paris Saint-Germain currently sit third with a record of four wins, one draw and one defeat, collecting 13 points and maintaining a strong position for direct qualification.
After the match, head coach Luis Enrique expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, while also admitting some disappointment with the result.
Luis Enrique: Performance Was Positive, but More Wins Are Needed
“The team is in very good form and I have a lot of confidence,” Enrique said. “The result is a little disappointing, and the Champions League table is very tight. If we want to be sure of finishing in the top eight, we still need at least one more win.”
He added: “It was a tense and difficult match, especially in the first half. But overall, we created very good chances and should have won the game.”
Dembélé Still Absent, Attack Affected
PSG forward and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé once again missed the match. He has played only eight games over the past three months. Enrique explained: “He was absent due to flu. We’ve already become used to playing without him this season.”
Since winning the Ballon d’Or earlier this year, Dembélé has made just eight appearances in all competitions, recording one goal and one assist, with only two starts.
PSG Set New Club Records
Notably, this was PSG’s first 0–0 draw in the Champions League since their goalless stalemate against Real Madrid on October 21, 2015, nearly a decade ago.
Despite the draw, PSG have now recorded 13 Champions League wins in the current calendar year, setting a new club record. Their 51 goals in major European competitions this year also mark a new high.
Benfica and Juventus Claim Victories
In another key match, Portuguese giants Benfica continued their resurgence after a poor start to the season and a managerial change. Playing at home, they secured a 2–0 victory over Italian champions Napoli.
In this clash of renowned managers, José Mourinho prevailed over Antonio Conte, guiding Benfica to a second consecutive Champions League title and their first home victory in the competition in over a year.
Elsewhere, Italian powerhouse Juventus struck twice within six minutes in the second half, with goals from Weston McKennie and Jonathan David, to claim a 2–0 win over Pafos.
Tight Race for Qualification Continues
In other matches, German sides Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund were both held to draws at home, against Newcastle United and Porto, respectively.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Villarreal suffered a 2–3 home defeat to Danish champions Copenhagen, leaving them second from bottom among the 36 teams.
As the tournament progresses, the battle for direct qualification spots is set to intensify, with every remaining match likely to prove decisive in shaping the final standings.
