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Lee Kang-in shines off the bench in PSG victory over Liverpool in Champions League quarterfinal

Published: 09 Apr. 2026, 16:05 Updated: 09 Apr. 2026, 18:11

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in shakes hands with coach Luis Enrique after being substituted during his team's match with Liverpool at Parc des Princes in Paris on April 8. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lee Kang-in made three key passes in just 12 minutes as his team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) beat Liverpool 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Introduced in the 78th minute at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Lee delivered an immediate impact in a brief but lively cameo.

His standout moment came in the 86th minute, when he slipped a precise through ball to Ousmane Dembele on the break. Dembele’s shot struck the right post, denying Lee what would have been a deserved assist.

Lee completed 10 of 11 passes and registered three key passes, an impressive return given his limited time on the field.

PSG had already taken control of the match before his introduction. Desire Doue scored in the 11th minute with a curling effort from the edge of the area, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added a second in the 65th after driving in from the left and rounding the goalkeeper.

The French side dominated throughout, outshooting Liverpool 17-3, and will take a two-goal advantage into the second leg on April 15.

Ousmane Dembele, left, and Lee Kang-in, right of Paris Saint-Germain in action against Curtis Jones of Liverpool, center, during the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, first leg match at Parc des Princes in Paris on April 8. [EPA/YONHAP]

Lee has featured largely as a substitute this season, making 10 Champions League appearances off the bench, but continues to show his value as a creative option in PSG head coach Luis Enrique’s rotation.

Speculation over Lee’s future has also grown, with Atletico Madrid reportedly interested in a move. Enrique, however, has emphasized the importance of squad players like Lee in PSG’s pursuit of the league trophy.

Atletico strengthened their own semifinal hopes on the same day, beating FC Barcelona 2-0 in their first-leg tie.

Julian Alvarez scored just before halftime after Barcelona had Pau Cubarsi sent off, and Alexander Sorloth added a second in the 70th minute.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY PARK RIN [[email protected]]