While no official announcement has been made by the club or player, Kylian Mbappé is expected to depart Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season and sign with Real Madrid. Still, the Frenchman can give his hometown club one more gift before heading for the exit.
When the quarter-final draw of the UEFA Champions League was revealed, Paris Saint-Germain could not believe their luck. The Ligue 1 giants will face FC Barcelona in the quarter-final and then either Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final. According to oddsmakers like f8bet all of the top teams are on the other side of the bracket, including Arsenal FC, FC Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
For years, PSG has always had the most difficult matchups in the Champions League. The one time they received a favorable draw was in 2020 and the club managed to reach the final against Bayern Munich, where they ultimately lost 1-0.
A lot has changed for PSG since then. They have a new manager, Luis Enrique, and a rebuilt squad that is more balanced and more talented. Leading the way for Les Parisiens is Mbappé, who scored three goals in two matches against Real Sociedad in the Round of 16.
Mbappé knows everything is set up for him to lead PSG to the final. Barcelona has been hit with injuries, and several players face suspension if they receive a yellow card in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. If they can advance to the next round, PSG will know they can beat Dortmund having already done it in the group stages. Atletico might present more of a challenge, but PSG will be favored against them as well.
Just like 2020, PSG may not face a formidable challenge until they reach the final. Unlike 2020, though, this PSG side is not playing with the same kind of pressure. The club is not in win-or-else mode, and supporters felt that reaching this stage was about as much as they could have hoped for coming into the season.
If Mbappé can lead PSG to the final and somehow drag them to a title win, it will be one of the most improbable runs in recent history. The Frenchman would likely win the Ballon d’Or, considering he’ll also lead France in UEFA Euro 2024, where they are expected to be one of the favorites. Accomplishing all that would put the final stamp on his PSG career and no supporter will begrudge him for moving on.
