May 15, 2026 (News On Japan) - Luis Enrique has achieved the impossible by combining dominant ball possession with lightning-fast counterattacks and intense pressing in the Parisians’ style of play.
Under his guidance, Paris Saint-Germain, an official partner of 1xBet, will feature in the final of the most prestigious club football tournament for the second consecutive season.
The Parisians’ path to the decisive battle for the Champions League title
The Red-and-Blues basically repeated the scenario of their previous European campaign. During the league phase, Paris Saint-Germain were warming up, trying to find their form and struggling with injuries. They ended up in 11th place in the standings with 14 points from 8 matches, which secured them a spot in the knockout phase.
Once again, the knockout phase play-offs brought back memories of last season in the form of a French derby. The sensational Brest were replaced by the experienced Monaco, but the outcome was the same – the Red-and-Blues advanced to the next round. Paris Saint-Germain then put on a masterclass in knocking Premier League giants out of the competition. In the round of 16, the Parisians sent Chelsea packing and then gave no chance to Liverpool.
The French side’s biggest test on their way to the Budapest final was their clash with Bayern Munich. The two teams put on an unforgettable goalscoring show at the Parc des Princes, which ended in a 5-4 victory for the hosts and proved to be one of the most entertaining matches of the entire tournament.
The return leg in Munich began with an early goal from Ousmane Dembélé in the 3rd minute, after which the Red-and-Blues skillfully capitalized on their advantage. The game ended 1-1, securing Paris Saint-Germain’s second final in a row.
Paris Saint-Germain’s biggest heroes and signature style
The secret to Luis Enrique’s success lies in his clever combination of the best qualities of the last decade’s two strongest teams – the effective ball control of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and the intense pressing of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Thanks to this blend, the Parisians surpass their opponents both in positional play and on counterattacks.
Looking at the style of today’s Paris Saint-Germain, a viral video immediately springs to mind, featuring Luis Enrique’s tactical analysis of Kylian Mbappé’s actions: “You must press. You must help the defenders. You must be the one who sets the tone for the whole team in defense,” the Spanish coach told his star player. That’s exactly how his forwards play.
Over the last few seasons, the Red-and-Blues have set the standard for teamwork. The system developed by Luis Enrique doesn’t limit the players’ individual skills, but rather highlights their strengths. A striking example is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has set a Champions League record – the Georgian winger has made at least one goal contribution in 7 consecutive knockout phase matches in a single campaign.
Meanwhile, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué continue to produce top-class performances, while the Portuguese midfield duo of Vitinha and João Neves perfectly control the tempo of the game, shifting from chaotic counterattacks to systematic possession play. In addition, Luis Enrique has Bradley Barcola, Lee Kang-in and Warren Zaïre-Emery on the bench, all of whom are capable of strengthening the team during a match.
1xBet congratulates Paris Saint-Germain on reaching the final of the most prestigious tournament in club football for the second time in a row. The Red-and-Blues will once again be competing for the title, proving that true champions are not those who have reached the top once, but those who have managed to stay there.
