By Julian Brito

PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) - Paris Saint-Germain were supposed to have put an end to the era of excessive reliance on global superstars, but as they reach the Champions League final for the second consecutive time, they appear to have ushered in a new version of that same era, albeit with a different vision and a more balanced approach. The current PSG is no longer a team whose identity revolves around celebrity glamour, but rather a disciplined, collective project led by Luis Enrique, built on tactical discipline, a spirit of sacrifice, and ferocity.

However, the club has players in its ranks such as Ousmane Dembele and Khvica Kvaratskhelia, whose influence began early in shaping this new era.

After the thrilling 5-4 home win in a match that will remain in the collective memory of football, it was expected that Paris Saint-Germain would face great difficulties against Bayern Munich on their home turf.

That was indeed the case, but the Parisian team surprised their host with an early goal, quickly giving them the initiative.

Just three minutes after kickoff, Fabian Ruiz sliced through the Bayern defense with a pinpoint pass to Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian surged into space, paused for a split second to freeze the defense, before laying the ball off to Dembélé, who unleashed a powerful first-time shot past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

While last season saw Paris Saint-Germain rise to prominence under Luis Enrique, this season has cemented their place among Europe's elite. With injuries receding, the team has once again emerged as a squad brimming with exceptional talent across all positions.

Willian Bacho, Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Dembélé, and Désirée Doué have emerged as the prominent figures of this generation, which is aiming to become only the second team to retain the Champions League title when they face Arsenal in the highly anticipated final in Budapest on May 30. Real Madrid were the last to achieve this feat, winning the title three times consecutively between 2016 and 2018.

Despite his status as a Ballon d'Or contender, Dembélé had a difficult evening in terms of possession. He struggled with a lack of passes and started the match in an unfamiliar role on the right wing before moving centrally after the break, managing only around 20 touches. Paris Saint-Germain also pushed further up the pitch than usual to escape Bayern's high press, which limited Dembélé's opportunities to move between the lines.

However, top-class strikers often only need one moment, and Dembele demonstrated this with his constant pressure, his retreat to defend, and his pursuit of the ball.

His brilliant goal turned the tide of the match in his team's favor, and once he had completed his mission, he was the first Paris Saint-Germain striker to leave the pitch after an hour of play.

But the night of Kvaratskhelia went differently; the Georgian continued to fight until the end, patiently and relentlessly attacking.

At times he appeared tired, when he bent down to catch his breath during his defensive duties or pulled his leg back after one of his runs, but he would soon be running forward again after a few seconds.

He won 11 out of 15 duels, completed six of seven dribbles, and recorded 56 touches—more than any other Paris Saint-Germain player except Nuno Mendes. In a match where the team spent most of the time defending deep and playing on the counter-attack, these statistics were particularly significant.

Kvaratskhelia has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in the Champions League this season, becoming the first player since the return of the round of 16 in 2003 to contribute to a goal in seven consecutive knockout matches.