Paris Saint-Germain ended their Ligue 1 season on a sour note, losing 2-1 to neighbours Paris FC in a local derby that raised fresh concerns heading into the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest.
The result came just days after PSG had already wrapped up their fifth consecutive French league title — and a record 14th overall — with a 2-0 win over Lens on Wednesday. Sunday’s game at the Stade Jean-Bouin was always going to be a formality on paper. It turned out to be anything but.
Dembélé Injury Dominates the Headlines
The biggest talking point of the night was not the scoreline but what happened in the 27th minute. Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner and the season’s best player in Ligue 1, came off with what appeared to be an injury and headed straight down the tunnel. Gonçalo Ramos replaced him.
Initial reports suggest the substitution was only precautionary, but with the Champions League final less than two weeks away, any fitness doubt surrounding Dembélé is significant — both for PSG and for France, who are counting on him for the upcoming World Cup.
Coach Luis Enrique had already made five changes to his starting lineup for the fixture. Losing Dembélé so early forced a sixth change and left the team visibly disrupted for long stretches of the first half.
How the Game Unfolded
PSG went into the break level, with neither side creating much of note. Vitinha curled off target from a free-kick, while Jonathan Ikoné flashed over at the other end in a quiet opening 45 minutes.
Bradley Barcola broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half, finishing into the bottom-right corner from a Fabián Ruiz assist — his 11th Ligue 1 goal of the season.
PSG looked comfortable, but Paris FC had other ideas. Substitute Alimami Gory deflected the ball beyond goalkeeper Matvei Safonov in the 76th minute to draw the hosts level. Then, deep into stoppage time, Gory tapped in a pass from Burnley loanee Luca Koleosho into an unguarded net to complete a stunning comeback and hand PSG a shock defeat.
Paris FC finished 11th in their first season since promotion to the top flight. For them, it was a memorable final day. For PSG, it was an uncomfortable result at a very sensitive time.
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What This Means for the Champions League Final
PSG face Arsenal in the Champions League final on Saturday, May 30 in Budapest, looking to retain the European title they won for the first time in their history last season. Arsenal finished the Premier League season as league leaders, making this a final between two of the continent’s most in-form sides.
The defeat itself changes nothing in terms of the Champions League picture. PSG have already secured their domestic title, and their squad depth has never been in question. But Dembélé’s fitness will be closely monitored in the days ahead, and Luis Enrique will want clarity quickly.
Sunday’s result was a bump in the road. Whether it becomes something more depends entirely on what the medical reports say about Dembélé in the coming days.
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