By 2 p.m., Place de la Porte de Saint-Cloud—bordering Parc des Princes—had transformed into an open-air kop. Thousands of Parisian supporters, some dipping their feet in the fountain to cool off under the scorching sun, sang PSG anthems with gusto. Though young and spirited, the crowd remained good-natured, embodying the club’s growing ambitions.

Chants like « après tant d’années… » echoed through the square, interspersed with bursts of smoke from flares. Two slogans dominated: « On veut la deuxième »—a plea for a second Champions League title—and « Dembélé Ballon d’Or », a tribute to the midfielder’s standout season. The crowd drew fans from beyond Paris and its suburbs, including a group of four Brazilians in yellow shirts, hoping to relive the euphoria of last year’s celebrations.

With kickoff just four hours away, some supporters playfully engaged with the heavily deployed riot police around the stadium, their camaraderie undimmed by the heat or the presence of authorities.