Paris Saint-Germain: Glamour, transition & expectations

Ici c’est Paris - Three words that have become a kind of acoustic calling card at the Parc des Princes. Anyone entering the stadium inevitably hears them, carried by a self-assurance that is deeply rooted in the club. This self-image has long shaped not only the men but also the women of Paris Saint-Germain – a style of play that combines elegance and technical precision with clear determination. For years, they too have been playing selected Champions League matches at the Parc des Princes, adding an extra dimension to this historic venue.

That is where FC Bayern Women's second away trip in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Women's Champions League will take them, as the German double winners face PSG on Thursday night. fcbayern.com takes a look at the development of the French club, its key players and why Paris has so far oscillated between ambition and actual fulfilment.

From the lower leagues to the European stage

The women's division at Paris Saint-Germain was established just one year after the club was created in 1970, putting together a team of 33 players that started in the country's lowest league. The road to the top was a long and arduous one. In 1999/2000, the capital club failed to secure promotion on the last day of the season, but a year later they finally succeeded. The team quickly established itself in Division 1 but initially remained well behind the leading forces. In 2005, PSG made their first sporting mark with the signings of Sabrina Delannoy and Laure Boulleau. Both players shaped the team for years and made more than 400 appearances between them.

Gradually, the team gained prominence. A symbolic evening followed in October 2009, when PSG played at the Parc des Princes for the first time – in front of just under 6,000 spectators and with a narrow victory in the city derby against Paris FC. A year later, they recorded their first major title, winning the French Cup. A runners-up finish in 2010/11 finally opened the door to the Champions League, where Paris progressed to the round of 16 on their debut. It was the first sign that the club was beginning to have a permanent say in European women's football.

Ever-increasing ambitions

In the years that followed, Paris saw a veritable surge in investment. The club signed top international players such as Americans Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan. At times, Les Parisiens had the highest budget in the league. The transfer policy remained aggressive, Germany internationals also heading to the French capital in Fatmire Alushi, Josephine Henning and Ann-Katrin Berger.

The impact was particularly evident on the European stage. In 2015, Paris reached the Champions League final for the first time but were defeated by 1. FFC Frankfurt. They reached the continental showpiece again two years later but also suffered one of their biggest lows, losing both the French Cup and the Champions League final to domestic rivals Lyon in the space of a few weeks. These were moments that highlighted how fine the line between optimism and disillusionment can be in top-flight football.

A long-awaited crowning

For more than a decade, the French league crown seemed firmly in Lyon's hands. Now known as OL Lyonnes, they had dominated the French football scene since 2007, buoyed by eight Champions League titles and a run of 14 consecutive domestic championships. This made the moment in spring 2021 all the more significant when Paris Saint-Germain finally broke their overwhelming dominance. The 2020/21 season brought the Parisian women their first and so far only league title in the club's history.

But beyond that historic triumph, PSG have also made their mark on the domestic front with four cup victories (2010, 2018, 2022 & 2024). In their rivalry with Lyon, which has been both a benchmark and a driving force for years, the Parisians have been able to write their own chapter, at least for a while, and show that perseverance can pay off even in the shadow of a giant.

Parc des Princes: Theatre of ambitions

The Parc des Princes, located in Paris's 16th arrondissement, is much more than just the home ground of Paris Saint-Germain. It can seat 48,583 spectators and is listed by UEFA in its highest category, a testament to its significance in sporting history. Opened in 1897 as a velodrome, the stadium quickly became one of the central venues for French football, hosting everything from cup finals and World Cup matches to European Cup finals before the striking concrete shell was rebuilt in 1972 and became a modern landmark.

Although it has not been the national stadium since the Stade de France opened in 1998, the Parc des Princes remains a special place for the PSG women's team. Selected matches, especially in the Champions League, have always been played in this historic stadium.

Romée Leuchter: Dutch dynamism in Paris

If Paris Saint-Germain currently have a real goal-scoring guarantee, her name is Romée Leuchter. The Netherlands international has made a brilliant start to the season in France, scoring six goals in six league games to sit top of the goals chart in the Division 1 Féminine. The 24-year-old also has three assists, giving her the most goal contributions in France’s top flight.

Leuchter is anything but an unknown quantity for Bayern. The Munich women faced Ajax, Leuchter's club at the time, in the 2023/24 Champions League group stage. The striker played in both matches and made her mark, particularly in the game in Amsterdam, where her goal to make it 1-0 secured Ajax's victory. Her first touch, precise finishing and constant presence between the lines already made her a dangerous attacking player back then. She has continued to refine those qualities since moving to Paris last year.

Transition and new beginnings

PSG are once again in one of those transitional phases that are as inevitable as they are decisive in women's football. The loss of key players this summer was particularly painful. Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Korbin Shrader joined long-time rivals Lyon, while Laurina Fazer moved on to San Diego. Grace Geyoro was another player who left for England, but Paris responded with remarkable determination. The signings of Spanish World Cup winner Olga Carmona, Nigerian attacker Rasheedat Ajibade and Brazilian Vitória Yaya not only give the squad a new profile but also the finesse that is firmly anchored in Paris' self-image.

This restructuring is already having an impact in the league. Six wins and only one defeat have earned captain Sakina Karchaoui and her team a solid second place, three points behind Lyon. In the Champions League, however, PSG have so far failed to live up to their potential, with defeats against Wolfsburg, Real Madrid and Manchester United leaving the Parisian women stuck at the bottom of the table.