PSG fix sights on another Ligue 1 and Champions League double

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique urges his team on from the touchline on Tuesday during the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Liverpool (Paul ELLIS)

(Paul ELLIS/AFP/AFP)

Paris Saint-Germain's dream of retaining the Champions League title remains alive and they could have yet another Ligue 1 crown all but wrapped up by the time they play the first leg of their semi-final tie in Europe.

A 2-0 win away to Liverpool on Tuesday, in which they had to withstand fierce pressure before Ousmane Dembele scored twice, secured a 4-0 aggregate victory in their Champions League quarter-final.

PSG have now reached the Champions League semi-finals in three straight seasons since Luis Enrique became coach in 2023, as many times as in their entire history before his arrival.

The biggest hurdles are still to come with a last-four tie against Bayern Munich up next, but PSG could become only the second team in the modern Champions League era to successfully defend their title.

"You can see the maturity of the team now," captain Marquinhos told broadcaster Canal Plus in Liverpool.

"Last year we went through all sorts of moments, good and bad, which allowed us to gain experience. We managed to hold on and suffer through games away from home, and we did that again."

Europe is the priority, so much so that PSG requested the postponement of their pivotal showdown with domestic title rivals Lens last weekend -- and the French league were happy to accommodate them, despite Lens voicing their opposition.

On Sunday PSG return to domestic duty at home to Lyon, who are themselves scrapping to qualify for next season's Champions League.

The Parisians are four points ahead of their closest rivals with a game in hand, meaning the title race might well be run by the time the teams do eventually face off next month.

French champions in the last four seasons, and in 11 of the last 13 years, PSG also host relegation-threatened Nantes in a rearranged fixture next Wednesday.

Meanwhile Lens must try to keep the pressure on by beating Toulouse at home on Friday, before those teams meet again in the same stadium in the French Cup semi-finals next Tuesday.