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PSG Crushes Reims, Closes In on Historic Treble \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Bradley Barcola scored twice and assisted once as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Reims 3-0 to win the French Cup final. The victory secured PSG’s domestic double and kept their treble hopes alive ahead of next weekend’s Champions League final. The dominant win sets the stage for a historic showdown with Inter Milan.

Quick Looks

• PSG beat Reims 3-0 in one-sided French Cup final
• Barcola scored two goals, assisted Hakimi for the third
• Désiré Doué Set Up Both of Barcola’s Goals
• PSG secures domestic double with 16th French Cup title
• Champions League final vs. Inter Milan up next
• Club eyes first-ever continental treble under Luis Enrique
• PSG previously lost 2020 UCL final to Bayern
• Reims outclassed, barely threatened after first-half dominance

Deep Look

Paris Saint-Germain’s 3–0 victory over Reims in the 2025 French Cup final wasn’t just a routine domestic triumph—it was a commanding statement of dominance and purpose as the club chases the elusive continental treble. With clinical precision, led by the brilliance of Bradley Barcola and the tactical control of Luis Enrique, PSG not only claimed a record-extending 16th Coupe de France title but also signaled their readiness for the biggest prize of all: the UEFA Champions League.

Bradley Barcola’s Breakout Moment

Bradley Barcola was the undisputed star of the night, delivering a performance that could mark a turning point in his young career. The French winger scored two first-half goals and provided an assist for Achraf Hakimi just before the break, becoming the engine of PSG’s attacking machine.

Barcola opened the scoring in the 16th minute after a beautifully threaded ball from Désiré Doué split the Reims defense. With composure beyond his years, Barcola slotted a low shot into the far corner. Just three minutes later, Doué once again found the 21-year-old inside the box, this time with a quick pass from the right, which Barcola converted easily for a 2–0 lead.

But Barcola wasn’t done. Before halftime, he curled in a perfect cross from the left wing, allowing right back Hakimi to finish with a clean volley. With one goal created and two scored, Barcola’s fingerprints were all over the match—an emphatic display of pace, technique, and vision.

The Surprise Impact of Désiré Doué

Few expected Désiré Doué to even start the match. The 19-year-old midfielder was a late addition to the starting lineup after Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pulled out due to headaches. But Doué seized his opportunity in spectacular fashion, assisting Barcola’s brace and dictating the tempo in midfield with maturity that belied his age.

His positioning, passing angles, and tactical awareness offered a Glimpse into PSG’s future core. As Luis Enrique looks to balance stars with emerging talent, performances like Doué’s only strengthen the club’s long-term outlook.

A Historic Domestic Double Secured

The French Cup win means PSG has now claimed a domestic double, having already sealed the Ligue 1 title with weeks to spare. The victory marked PSG’s 16th French Cup Titlefurther cementing their dominance over French football. Their nearest rival, Marseille, trails by six in the all-time cup tally.

This double is Enrique’s first full-season sweep in France, and a significant achievement as he builds PSG in his image—less reliant on superstar individuals and more about cohesive, high-tempo football. The team’s depth was on full display Saturday, with key contributors stepping up despite multiple absences and a second-half slowdown.

Eyes on the One Missing Trophy

Despite PSG’s overflowing domestic trophy cabinet, one item still eludes them: the UEFA Champions League. The club’s Qatari ownership has spent over a decade assembling star-studded squads in pursuit of European glory. They came close in 2020, only to fall to Bayern Munich in a final played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next Saturday, PSG will get another chance to rewrite that history when they face Inter Milan in the 2025 final in Munich. Inter arrives battle-tested from a grueling Serie A campaign that went down to the wire before Napoli clinched the title. While PSG has had the luxury of coasting domestically, Inter may hold the advantage in match sharpness.

Still, PSG enters the final with momentum, form, and belief—qualities that have sometimes wavered on the European stage. Luis Enrique, who orchestrated a continental treble with Barcelona in 2015, is now one step away from achieving the same with PSG. Few managers have reached that milestone with multiple clubs, and doing so with a historically underachieving European side like PSG would be monumental.

Reims: A Shadow of Their Former Glory

For Reims, the final was more of a history lesson than a competition. Once among the giants of French and European football—twice runners-up in the European Cup during the 1950s—the club simply couldn’t keep up. PSG’s technical superiority was evident from the first whistle, and Reims struggled to mount any serious threat, particularly in the first half.

Their tactical shape collapsed under PSG’s high press and pace, and although they stabilized somewhat in the second half, the match had already been decided. The loss was a harsh reminder of the current gap between PSG and nearly every other club in France.

Second-Half Management and Tactical Control

After building a 3–0 lead, PSG managed the second half with discipline rather than aggression. Luis Enrique opted for game management, rotating his midfield and pulling back the press to conserve energy ahead of the Champions League final. The only real chance of note came when Ousmane Dembélé’s curling effort clipped the crossbar.

The second half served as a controlled exercise in maintaining rhythm and preventing injuries. It also demonstrated PSG’s maturity—prior teams might have continued pushing for goals, risking fatigue or errors. Under Enrique, the team appears more composed, pragmatic, and focused on long-term goals.

What’s at Stake in Munich

A win against Inter Milan would place PSG in the elite company of clubs that have achieved a continental treble—joining the ranks of Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Inter themselves. It would also deliver on the promise that has hung over the club since its Qatari-backed rebirth: to become champions of Europe.

If Saturday’s performance is anything to go by, PSG is ready. They’ve conquered France once again. Now they must face history.

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