Sporting CP beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 at Estadio Jose Alvalade, with Luis Suarez scoring twice, including a 90th-minute winner. The defeat means PSG still need a positive result against Newcastle United next week to secure direct qualification for the Champions League last 16 and avoid the play-offs.
Despite the loss, Luis Enrique insisted the display in Lisbon was PSG’s top Champions League performance this season. Luis Enrique said: "It's the best away game we've played, I'm very proud of my players. With this mentality, I'm sure we'll go far. The result is disappointing, it's a shame. I only saw one team throughout the entire match. We were superior to the opponent, even though they were very good. It's disappointing because it's unfair,
it's difficult to talk about football right now. Damn football!"
The match swung late on. Suarez put Sporting CP ahead, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia levelled for Paris Saint-Germain five minutes later. PSG created sustained pressure and recorded 28 shots, yet struggled to convert chances into goals. That wastefulness left space for Suarez to strike again in the final minute and seal the Champions League upset.
Statistics underlined the shock factor for Paris Saint-Germain in this Champions League fixture. Opta reported it was PSG’s first Champions League defeat against a club from outside Europe’s top five leagues since a 2-1 loss to Benfica in December 2013, ending a sequence of 32 such matches without defeat.
32 - Paris SG lost their first Champions League match against a team playing in a league outside the European Top 5 since December 2013 (1-2 v Benfica), ending a run of 32 such games without defeat. Crucified. #SCPPSG pic.twitter.com/sZXmCkky7IOptaJean (@OptaJean) January 20, 2026
Ousmane Dembele created Paris Saint-Germain’s equaliser against Sporting CP and extended a strong Champions League run. Dembele has now been directly involved in 16 goals across Dembele’s last 17 Champions League appearances, with nine goals and seven assists, highlighting Dembele’s influence even as PSG failed to convert pressure into a result.
Attention around Paris Saint-Germain in this Champions League campaign also focuses on Dembele’s contract. Before kick-off, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi discussed negotiations over a new deal for the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, while indicating an agreement is not close. Al-Khelaifi told Canal+: "The club's policy is that there's a salary cap for players, everyone knows it and everyone must respect it, The club is more important than anyone else. "
Paris Saint-Germain now carry pressure into the Champions League meeting with Newcastle United, needing at least a draw to avoid the play-offs. The defeat to Sporting CP leaves frustration over missed chances, yet Luis Enrique’s praise for the performance suggests PSG believe the level shown in Lisbon can still support a deep run in Europe.
