Mary Earps' Champions League campaign is over! PSG & Lionesses star suffer nightmare qualifying exit as Juventus & Alisha Lehmann progress to group stage instead

PSG went into the second leg of this second round qualifier with plenty of work to do, having lost 3-1 in Turin last Wednesday. That task became even harder almost immediately when Sofia Cantore capitalised on the chaos caused by a Juve corner to put her team 1-0 up on the night, and even further ahead on aggregate, with only two minutes on the clock.

It took until after half-time for the Parisians to get one back, when Romee Leuchter converted from the penalty spot after a foul on Marie-Antoinette Katoto, but it did spark them into life a little. Korbin Albert was extremely close to reducing that deficit further when she struck the crossbar and then Jennifer Echegini forced a strong save out of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

However, set piece defending - or a lack thereof - proved PSG's undoing once again, Barbara Bonansea coming off the bench to dart completely unmarked to the near post and flick a header beyond Earps that killed the tie off with 18 minutes remaining.

As well as the Italian giants, this was a result for Manchester City to celebrate, as it ensured the English side will be in Pot 2 for Friday's group stage draw. City knew that if PSG and Arsenal both progressed on Thursday, they would be downgraded to Pot 3 and theoretically have a tougher European schedule. However, the Parisians' elimination made sure it was best case scenario instead.

The goal that gave Juventus the lead on the night, and helped them secure progression through to the group stage more comfortably, was by no means pretty. However, the manner in which Cantore quickly pounced on the ball and prodded it beyond a helpless Earps was characteristic of her start to the season. After also scoring in the first leg of this tie, the 24-year-old now has four goals in her first five games of the 2024-25 season. She's flying.

Earps has spoken a lot about why she joined PSG this summer. She has talked about the opportunity to get out of her comfort zone, and she certainly appears to be enjoying the chance to experience a different culture and lifestyle in France, and about the quality of this team, one she has described as among the best in Europe.

After a difficult final season at Manchester United saw the club miss out on Champions League qualification, it felt like this move was a fantastic chance for Earps to play in the competition regularly for the first time in her career. To once again crash out at this stage then, after doing so 12 months ago with the Red Devils, will be hugely frustrating for the England star and put a dampener on a new chapter that she looks to have been thoroughly enjoying to this point.

PSG will now look to put their full focus on the league and a title they have only won once before, back in 2021. Lyon are the dominant force in French women's football but the Parisians often push them close and will hope to do so again. Juventus, meanwhile, can look forward to the Champions League group stage draw, which takes place on Friday.