Best Performing Clubs in 2025: Q1 Results

By: AT

Image Credit: Moahad Saqib

With the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 complete, we look at the three best performing clubs from January 1 to April 1, 2025. This article is the first part of a four-part series that includes brief analyses on the three best performing clubs from Europe’s top five leagues and a brief overview on their upcoming matches and their prospects to winning trophies.

The analysis portion notes the clubs’ records and accomplishments during that period, notably standout matches and winning streaks, and exploits in such knockout-style competitions as domestic cup competitions and the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

Future articles in this series will be released after the following dates in 2025:

• July 1, an analysis of the top three clubs in Q2;

• October 15, an analysis of the top three clubs in Q3; and

• December 31, an analysis of the top three clubs throughout 2025 (see our 2024 analysis here).

This article was drafted prior to the matches that took place on Saturday, April 5.

Without further ado, let us delve into the first top-three performer from Q1 2025.

🇫🇷 Paris Saint Germain

Record (wins, draws, losses from January 1 to April 1, 2025): 20-1-1

The Ligue 1 giants have been undoubtedly on a mission to achieve history; by that, we mean a first-ever quadruple that comprises the Ligue 1, Coupe de France (French cup), Trophée des Champions (French super cup) and UEFA Champions League titles — the latter of which would be a first in the club’s history. Moreover, Les Parisiens aim to finish their 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign undefeated, which would be a first in Ligue 1 history.

Since the start of 2025, Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG’s) players and management personnel have been working relentlessly to convert this possibility into reality. Their 20-1-1 record since the start of the New Year is a clear indication and proof that they are closer to their goal. On January 5, PSG kicked off their calendar year with a 1-0 victory against AS Monaco to clinch their 13th said title.

After returning to Ligue 1 action seven days later, with a 2-1 home victory against AS Saint-Étienne, the capital club extended their lead at the top of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 table with an impressive streak of 10 league wins and one draw. The club’s 10 wins include a 4-1 home victory against second-place AS Monaco, 3-2 away against sixth-place Olympique Lyonnais and 3-1 at home against archrivals Olympique de Marseille. This sequence, which includes an outstanding eight-match winning streak, cement their dominance in French football this season.

So far, PSG boast a league record of 22 wins and five draws, and with seven matches remaining, they can clinch the league title on Saturday, April 5 against rivals Angers SCO. Should this result materialize, Paris will hoist their 13th Ligue 1 title, which would also include achieving a sequence of winning four consecutive said titles for the second time in club history. (Update: PSG clinched the 2024-25 Ligue 1 title after a 1-0 victory against Angers.)

In Coupe de France, after defeating Ligue 1 rivals RC Lens on penalties (1-1 after full-time, given that there is no extra-time in Coupe de France matches) in their last match of 2024, PSG won their next four matches to ultimately clinch a berth in the Coupe de France final for a 21st time in club history. The club will seek a 16th said title in their 55-year history. PSG’s Coupe de France wins in 2025 include:

• a 4-2 away victory in the round of 32 against Championnat National 3 (French fifth division) club FC Espaly;

• a 2-0 away victory in the round of 16 against Championnat National (French third division) club Le Mans FC;

• a 7-0 away victory in the quarterfinals against Championnat National 2 (French fourth division) club Stade Briochin; and

• a 4-2 away victory in the semifinals against Ligue 2 club USL Dunkerque, during which they rallied from a 2-0 deficit.

PSG will duel against fellow Ligue 1 club Stade Reims in the final, which will take place at Stade de France on May 24.

Regarding UCL, at the end of January, PSG built off their last UCL match in 2024 — a decisive 3-0 away victory against Red Bull Salzburg — with a 4-2 home victory against Premier League (EPL) giants Manchester City, during which they rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring four unanswered goals. With both clubs struggling throughout the 2024-25 UCL league stage, PSG’s win resulted in the club avoiding the worst possible outcome in being prematurely eliminated from the UCL before the knockout stage. The win all but confirmed a berth in the playoff knockout round; PSG clinched that berth one week later in their final league stage match following a 4-1 blowout away victory against Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart.

In February, in the UCL playoff knockout round, PSG were paired with league rivals Stade Brestois and achieved a 10-0 aggregate victory — 3-0 in the first leg away and then 7-0 in the second leg at home. Then, in March, PSG duelled against EPL leaders Liverpool FC, which concluded the UCL league stage campaign with a first-place finish. Despite dominating yet losing their first-leg match at home by a 1-0 score, PSG won the second-leg match by the same score and achieved the near-unthinkable by emerging victorious on penalties.

Their win — a first at Anfield for any club this season — resulted in the heavy favourites being eliminated. In addition, it also blew the door wide open for any club to win the 2024-25 UCL title. That said, PSG could certainly win their first UCL title, which would be an amazing feat for such a young and incredibly talented and athletic squad that consists of a sizeable cohort of homegrown players.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Nottingham Forest

Record: 10-2-3

Although Nottingham Forest do not possess the same degree of prestige as PSG nor compete in the UCL, Forest nevertheless earned their place on this list because they have taken the EPL by storm. Although they displayed dominant performances throughout the season — including a 2-0 win against league leaders Liverpool — since the New Year, Forest are playing their best top-flight football in decades.

After earning promotion to the EPL following the 2021-22 season, Forest battled throughout the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons to maintain their place in the EPL for the following season. After finishing in 16th and 17th place over the last two seasons, respectively, Forest currently — and astonishingly — sit in third place in the 2024-25 EPL table, raking in 57 points from 31 matches (out of 38).

With seven matches remaining, Forest are in the driver’s seat towards clinching a UCL berth for the first time since the late 1970s and a berth in a European competition since participating in the 1980-81 UEFA Super Cup. They are currently competing with league giants, namely the likes of Arsenal FC (in second place with a four-point lead), Chelsea FC (in fourth place, and trailing Forest by five points), Manchester City (in fifth place, and trailing Forest by six points); other clubs that remain in the race for a UCL berth include Newcastle United (50 points), Aston Villa (48 points) and Brighton & Hove Albion (47 points).

Since the New Year, Forest’s record of six wins, two draws and three losses is a respectable run, considering they defeated City 1-0 and Brighton 7-0, and drew the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal by 1-1 and 0-0 scores, respectively. As a result of this sequence, Forest currently boast an existing six-match unbeaten streak (five wins and one draw) in all competitions. (Update: Forest’s streak was snapped by Villa following a 2-1 away loss on Saturday, April 5).

Moreover, it is important to note that Forest’s successes from 2025 also stem from their performances in the FA Cup. This competition is England’s more prestigious cup competition compared to the EFL Cup, from which Forest were eliminated in fall 2024. With EPL clubs entering the FA Cup’s third round (i.e., round of 64), in early January, Forest kicked off their 2024-25 FA Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory against EFL Championship club and recently relegated EPL club Luton Town. In the later rounds, Forest mustered the following FA Cup results:

• an away victory on penalties (2-2 after extra-time) in the fourth round/round of 32 against EFL League One (English third division) club Exeter City;

• a home victory on penalties (1-1 after extra time) in the fifth round/round of 16 against EPL club Ipswich Town; and

• an away victory on penalties (0-0 after extra-time) in the quarterfinals against Brighton.

Paired against 2023-24 FA Cup runners-up Manchester City, which are still missing star midfielder and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and star forward Erling Haaland, Forest are in prime position to upset a struggling City squad and clinch a berth to the 2024-25 FA Cup final, which will be held in late May at Wembley Stadium. An appearance in the FA Cup final would be a fourth in Forest’s history and a first since 1991, whereas winning the FA Cup title would be a third in club history after previously winning it in 1898 and 1959.

Should Forest maintain their form in the EPL and clinch a berth for next season’s edition of the UCL, as well as book a trip to the FA Cup final and potentially hoisting the trophy, their season will be considered among the most iconic for a non-big-name club. Their near-relegation from the last two seasons resembles Leicester City’s miraculous run to the 2015-16 EPL title, which succeeded a disastrous 2014-15 season in which they were nearly relegated after only one season back in the EPL. As CBS sports notes, Forest’s staggering season represents the awakening of a sleeping giant.

🇮🇹 Bologna FC

Record: 11-5-1

They are doing it again! Due to recent stellar performances, Bologna FC may once again clinch a berth to the UCL after doing so last season for the first time in 60 years. After finishing in fifth place in the 2023-24 Serie A table, and despite losing manager Thiago Motta to Juventus FC and such star players as Ricardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee to EPL clubs Arsenal and Manchester United during the summer, Bologna currently sit in fourth place in the 2024-25 league table. They currently rank ahead of such clubs as AS Roma, SS Lazio and ACF Fiorentina (sixth, seventh and eighth place, and all three trailing by four points). Moreover, they sit only two points behind third-place Atalanta BC.

Bologna owe their resurgence to their impeccable performances dating from early January, during which they earned nine wins against the likes of AC Milan (2-1) and Lazio (5-0), as well as draws against Roma and Milan (both 2-2). However, to maintain their current stature in the league table, Bologna will have to overcome a considerably difficult schedule, with their next three opponents being second-place SSC Napoli, third-place Atalanta and league leaders Inter. Then, Bologna’s next four opponents are Udinese, Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina. Ultimately, a top-four finish and a second qualification for the UCL in as many seasons will mark a true turning point for a club that only a few years ago flirted with relegation.

As well, Bologna earned their place on this list due their unwavering performances in Coppa Italia and during their final stretch in the UCL league stage. Domestically, after kicking off their 2024-25 Coppa Italia campaign with a 4-0 home win in the round of 16 against AC Monza in December 2024, in the quarterfinals, Bologna defeated Atalanta on their turf by a 1-0 score. Then, paired with Empoli FC in the semifinals, Bologna placed themselves on the brink of qualifying for the final with a decisive 3-0 away victory in the first leg match; the second leg match will take place at Bologna’s Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Barring a colossal collapse at home against Empoli, Bologna will likely compete in the final against one of the Milan clubs (their first leg match ended in a 1-1 draw).

That said, Bologna have a chance to continue their historic two-year run by winning a third Coppa Italia title in club history, having hoisted the title in 1970 and 1974.

Finally, despite a series of sluggish performances in the UCL league stage throughout fall 2024, Bologna’s performances improved in January 2025. In their penultimate match, they defeated Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund 2-1, and in their final match, drew 1-1 away against Primeira Liga giants Sporting CP. Despite failing to qualify for the knockout stage, Bologna displayed laudable performances during the final stretch of the inaugural UCL league stage and earned Europe’s respect.

While club owner Joey Saputo has undoubtedly played a role in revolutionizing this club, Canadians and Montrealers can only hope that such fortunes can materialize with Bologna’s sister club CF Montréal, whether it is with Saputo or without him. Montréal’s ratings from their first five matches of the 2025 MLS regular season can be found here.