PSG players and fans take part in wild celebrations outside stadium after reaching Champions League quarter-finals - in pictures

Thousands gathered outside the Parc des Princes and were joined by players from the stadium's top tier

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Paris Saint-Germain supporters may have been denied the chance to watch their team defeat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but that did not stop them coming together with the players to celebrate the victory.

PSG secured a 2-0 win on the night to ensure a 3-2 win on aggregate and earn a place in the quarter-finals. However, the match was played behind-closed-doors at the Parc des Princes as French authorities imposed measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Thousands of fans still gathered outside the stadium to cheer on the team and after the game, PSG players climbed to the top tier of the Parc des Princes to celebrate with those gathered below.

Red clouds of smoke caused by flares engulfed the area surrounding the stadium as players, staff, and supporters chanted and danced in celebration.

"We have values and we have character," said centre back Marquinhos, who captained the team in the absence of the injured Thiago Silva.

"We heard the fans, we saw them before the game, I had never seen that before. It is what football is about, it's about passion, that's what we're here for."

The wild celebrations demonstrated PSG's relief after traumatic recent exits from Europe's most prestigious club competition at the last-16 stage.

In 2017, PSG were eliminated 6-5 on aggregate by Barcelona after letting slip a 4-0 advantage, and last season they lost to Manchester United on away goals after a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in the first leg.

Indeed, there were reports that manager Thomas Tuchel could face the sack if he was unable to end PSG's Champions League woes, but the German has eased the pressure, at least for now.

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