Getty Images Sport | Moataz Elgammal | Apr 15, 2026 03:54+06:00 'Better than a goal!' - Marquinhos hails 'decisive' clearance as PSG dump Liverpool out of Champions League Paris Saint-Germain | Marquinhos | Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain | Liverpool | Champions League Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos described his heroic goal-saving block against Liverpool as feeling "better than a goal" after guiding the defending European champions to a convincing 2-0 victory at Anfield on Tuesday. The spectacular defensive intervention ensured the French giants sealed a dominant 4-0 aggregate triumph in the Champions League tie, eliminating the Reds once again. Dominant champions conquer Anfield The 31-year-old Brazilian centre-back delivered a defensive masterclass during the quarter-final second leg. Paris Saint-Germain have successfully eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League at Anfield for the second consecutive season. As the reigning champions, they showcased their European pedigree by securing a comfortable 2-0 win on the night, replicating their first-leg scoreline to advance to the semi-finals. The match remained goalless in the first half when Marquinhos intervened with a breathtaking clearance to deny the hosts, setting the stage for Ousmane Dembele to score twice later in the game. AFP A defender's ultimate moment The defender expressed immense pride in his decisive intervention while speaking to Canal+. The crucial block happened when the score was still deadlocked at 0-0. "For a defender, it's better than a goal! It's the kind of moments I enjoy the most. Safonov makes a first save, there's a second ball, I turn around and I see [Virgil] van Dijk arriving. I just have the reflex to throw myself at the ball and try to save it. These are details that change a match," Marquinhos said. Masterful defensive statistics Beyond that singular highlight, the veteran centre-back produced outstanding defensive numbers throughout the 90 minutes. Marquinhos registered eight vital defensive contributions, including four crucial clearances and two blocked shots, completely neutralising the opposition's attacking threats. Furthermore, he was never dribbled past during the entire encounter, proving his immense reliability at the back. ENJOYED THIS STORY? Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting Looking ahead to the semi-finals Following this emphatic triumph, PSG have securely booked their place in the semi-finals. They now eagerly await the winner of the highly anticipated clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Bayern currently hold an advantage after securing a vital 2-1 victory in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Getty Images Sport
'Better than a goal!' - Marquinhos' 'decisive' clearance sends PSG past Liverpool in Champions League thriller.
