Key Takeaways:
- Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the knockout stage last night with a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao
- Unai Simón produced several outstanding saves to keep PSG from scoring and earn Athletic a point
- Athletic Bilbao remain outside the top 24, collecting just one win and two draws from their campaign after this match
Match Analysis
Defending Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain clinched direct qualification for the knockout phase after a 0-0 stalemate against Athletic Bilbao in the sixth round of the competition. While the Parisians were far from their most fluent, they nonetheless created several notable opportunities, only to be thwarted by the superb Unai Simón in the Athletic goal. Simón’s heroics ensured a share of the spoils for the Basque side, who have struggled in the main stage and remain with only one win and two draws, leaving them outside the tournament’s leading 24 teams.
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Unai Simon has been named Man of the Match in Athletic Club vs. PSG. 🧤 pic.twitter.com/EomAGXbBH8
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) December 10, 2025
The early stages unfolded at a measured pace, with both teams probing for an opening. PSG began to assert greater control from the 15th minute, threatening for the first time in the 19th when Fabián Ruiz’s effort, following a right-wing delivery, sailed over the bar. Athletic attempted to respond with quick transitions, but their play was marred by errors. A contentious moment arose a minute later as Oihan Sancet tumbled in the box after seeking contact with Marquinhos, but referee Daniel Siebert, from Germany, waved play on.
Key Moments and Player Performance
The home side then raised their intensity, unsettling the French champions with high pressing that disrupted Luis Enrique’s preferred build-up. Shortly past the half-hour, Warren Zaïre-Emery conceded a severe foul on the flank. Álex Berenguer’s ensuing free kick was struck dangerously towards the upper left corner from a narrow angle, but Matvei Safonov was well positioned to parry. As half-time approached, the Parisians saw their best chance fall to Mayulu, set up by a slick Zaïre-Emery pass, but Simón reacted brilliantly to deny the opener.
PSG returned from the interval on the front foot and looked increasingly dominant. Mayulu again found himself at the end of a right-wing cross in the 50th minute, but a last-ditch defensive intervention stopped him. Moments later, Zaïre-Emery unleashed a powerful strike, only for Simón to pull off another save. The pressure from the French side continued, and the Spanish goalkeeper remained alert, stopping a headed effort following an hour’s play.
The match’s pivotal moment for PSG arrived in the 65th minute. After an incisive move, Bradley Barcola sprinted clear and rattled the crossbar rather than passing to the unmarked Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The miss was soon followed by a drop in tempo, as both teams began to misplace passes with greater frequency. Athletic responded with substitutions from Ernesto Valverde and looked revitalised, but Berenguer was wasteful from the edge of the penalty area in the 79th minute.
Crucial Saves and Final Standings Implications
PSG’s ambitions for a late winner were again denied in the 87th minute as Fabián Ruiz slipped through on the left wing and found himself alone with Simón, whose intervention yet again kept the match goalless. Ruiz reached the loose ball after Simón’s save, but Yuri Berchiche cleared it from only half a metre out, decisively preventing a goal for the visitors. In the dying moments, Athletic Bilbao managed a final attempt on Safonov’s goal, but it failed to trouble the Russian or alter the result. The match ended scoreless, securing a point apiece.
| Team | Score | Points After Match | Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | 0 | 13 | 4 | 1 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
