Three years since Paris Saint-Germain had last tasted this pleasure, since a formidable epic in 2020-2021 which took them to the semi-final at the end of a journey full of panache, which saw them dismiss FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
But that's it: the capital club is once again qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, thanks to its great victory this Tuesday evening at Anoeta against Real Sociedad (1-2), which echoed that of the first leg (2-0).
Beyond emotions, this qualification can also be read in the figures.
3.
This is the number of goals scored by Kylian Mbappé in two matches against Real Sociedad: one in the first leg, two in the return.
This is, moreover, one more than the total of goals conceded by the Basque team during the entire group stage (2).
Also read “In reality, this match is Mbappé and that’s it”: Omar Da Fonseca analyzes Real Sociedad-PSG
4.
Like the number of times PSG has dismissed a Spanish team in the final phase of the Champions League.
PSG eliminated FC Barcelona twice (1994-95 and 2020-21), Valencia FC once (2012-13) and therefore Real Sociedad once (2023-24).
Needless to say, in its history, especially recent history, Spanish clubs have also done a lot of harm to the capital club.
7.
PSG reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the seventh time in the QSI era: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2024.
16.
This is the number of passes which preceded Paris Saint-Germain's second goal on Tuesday evening, a brilliant collective action concluded just as brilliantly by Kylian Mbappé.
This is the highest Parisian total for a goal in the Champions League this season
Read alsoReal Sociedad-PSG (1-2): Luis Enrique’s successful bets
21.
Since their setback on the San Siro pitch on November 7 (2-1), Paris Saint-Germain has not lost a single match in all competitions, representing a current run of 21 matches without defeat.
23.
23 years and 361 days: the starting lineup aligned by Luis Enrique on Tuesday evening was the youngest on average in PSG history for a Champions League match.
At 28, Lucas Hernandez (born February 14, 1996) was a veteran on the pitch and five players were 23 or younger (Beraldo, Nuno Mendes, Zaire-Emery, Vitinha and Barcola).
40.
Kylian Mbappé is the first player from the five major European championships to be involved in 40 goals this club season, in all competitions (33 goals, 7 assists).
2016.
For the first time since 2016, PSG won both matches of a direct elimination double-header in the Champions League.
The last time, it was already in the round of 16, against Chelsea (2-1, 2-1).
It is also the last time that PSG qualified for the next round by... playing twice in full stadiums: eliminated in the round of 16 in 2017, 2018 and 2019, PSG reached the final (2020 ) then the semi-finals (2021) during the Covid period, before again making two eliminations in the 1/8th round (2022, 2023).