Champions League: regrets against Arsenal, jewel of Djorkaeff, Leipzig swept away… A look back at PSG's seven European halves

Memories, memories... Eliminated in the round of 16 of the Champions League over the last two seasons, by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, PSG is returning to the joys of the semi-finals this year. Fallers of Real Sociedad (2-0, 2-1) and Barça (2-3, 4-1) in the previous rounds, after coming out second in the “group of death” ahead of AC Milan and Newcastle, the Luis Enrique's players have a meeting with Dortmund this Wednesday, at Signal Iduna Park and on May 7, at the Parc des Princes, for a place in the final. The last four in the European Cup? A habit for PSG, Canal version. It happened five years in a row (1993-97), once in C1, once in C3 and three in C2, including in 1996, when Luis Fernandez's players won what remains to this day the only continental trophy of the club. This will be the third time that PSG plays a C1 semi-final under QSI, with a qualification against Leipzig (2020) and an elimination against Manchester City (2021). A look back at PSG's seven European halves.

The Canal version of PSG began its long and fruitful love affair with Europe during this 1992-93 campaign, in the UEFA Cup. The qualification against Naples (2-0, 0-0), in the 16th, served as a trigger. The comeback against Real (1-3, 4-1), in the quarters, is remembered. In the semi-finals, Artur Jorge's men challenged a Juventus that was sick but remained impressive on paper. Dominant, they thought they had done the hard part by opening the score via George Weah in the first leg, at the Stadio Delle Alpi, before... thwarting and falling to a double from Roberto Baggio (2-1). On the return leg, Paris Saint-Germain, beaten 0-1 on a new goal from the opportunistic Baggio, learned a lesson in vice and efficiency. With the kind participation of the referees. Even the former Turin player Michel Platini, commenting on Canal at the time, recognized that a penalty should have been whistled for an obvious foul on Weah in the area... As in 1983 and 1989, the capital club lowered its flag facing the Old Lady.

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Winner of the Coupe de France in 1993, the PSG of the late Artur Jorge lined up in C2, once again dismissing Real in the quarters (1-0, 1-1), before coming up against Arsenal in the semi-finals. A story of set pieces on the first leg, at the Parc des Princes. From a corner, David Ginola responded to Ian Wright's opener from a free kick (1-1). Two heads. Despite Kevin Campbell's very early goal on the return leg at Highbury, PSG pushed, pushed, pushed again... without ever finding the fault (1-0 defeat). Regrets for the future champions of France. Lots of regrets... The absence of George Weah is also one. Artur Jorge had chosen Ricardo, Valdo and Rai for the three foreigners' places, leaving the Liberian striker on the sidelines.

Led by a fiery George Weah (7 goals in 10 matches), the French champions achieved a flawless performance in the Champions League group stage, six victories in six matches (Bayern Munich, Spartak Moscow, Dynamo kyiv), after having dismissed the Hungarians of Vac FC in the preliminary round and before defeating Johan Cruyiff's Barça in the quarter-finals (1-1, 2-1). Luis Fernandez's squad faced the Milanese armada in the semi-finals, the outgoing European champions. Paulo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Marcel Desailly, Zvonimir Boban, Dejan Savicevic… Legends at the four corners of the pitch. And on the bench with Fabio Capello. On the way out, however, Paris had done better than resist. Live up to the event. Opportunities on both sides. David Ginola's bar. A penalty which could (should?) have been whistled in favor of the Parisians. Alas, the Milanese won the Italian, 1-0, Boban in the 89th. Cruel. At San Siro, however, there was no photo (2-0). Milan dominated the proceedings and logically won thanks to a double from Savicevic.

We're talking to you about a time that the under-20s cannot know, the one when La Coruna was a club that counts in Europe. After dismissing Parma (0-1, 3-1) in what appeared to be the final before the letter of this Cup of Cups, PSG attacked Deportivo de Bebeto in the semi-finals. A Deportivo weakened by absences, it is true, but no Rai or Youri Djorkaeff at the start of the first leg, at the Riazor, on the Paris-SG side. The second, however, had taken his place on the bench. He came out in the 80th minute, before unleashing a clear shot that remained in the memories from entering the area, in stoppage time. Legendary. The “Snake” did its work and PSG won 1-0 in Spain. It was on a serve from the said Djorkaeff that Patrice Loko shook the nets on the hour mark in the return (1-0) and Paris validated its ticket to the final, its first in the European Cup, against Rapid Vienne, at Brussels. We know the rest: with a distant free kick, Bruno N'Gotty offered what remains today the club's only European title.

After dismissing Vaduz (4-0, 3-0), Galatasaray (2-4, 4-0) and AEK Athens (0-0, 3-0), the defending champion challenged Robbie Fowler's Liverpool and Steve McManaman in the C2 semis. Dominant, efficient and... very happy to see David James deserve his nickname, "Calamity James", in the English cages, Ricardo's players performed on the first leg at the Parc, with goals from Leonardo, Benoît Cauet and Jérôme Leroy (3 -0). Treat. Enough to show up with confidence at Anfield on the way back. Except that Fowler scored quickly (12th). Paris folded... and broke again in the 80th, a goal from Liverpool captain Mark Wright. A match not recommended for those with heart problems. Finally, Paris held on (2-0 defeat) and joined Barça of… Luis Enrique in the final, in Rotterdam. No double for the Rouge et Bleu, beaten 1-0 on a penalty from Ronaldo, the Brazilian, following a foul by N'Gotty.

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After overthrowing Dortmund in the 8th round (1-2, 2-0), PSG headed to Lisbon, where the Final 8 was being played in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Eight teams, one city, no return match, no spectators. A “tournament” format perfectly suited to PSG. After a qualification snatched at the finish against Atalanta (2-1) in the quarters, Thomas Tuchel's men played against Leipzig (3-0) in the half. A collective demonstration! Already a scorer in the quarter-finals, Marquinhos had started the debates. Man of the match? Angel Di Maria, author of a goal and two assists. On "Fideo's" goal, Neymar had made a deflection as brilliant as it was delicious, he who had legs of fire in Lisbon... if not skillful in front of goal. Still, Juan Bernat, often decisive in C1, had completed the Parisian recital. On to the final against Bayern Munch, which PSG could also find if they qualify this year. Hoping for another outcome: Kingsley Coman had crucified his training club (0-1)…

In the end, we can logically say that there was no conflict between Manchester City and PSG. Defeat 1-2 at the Parc on the first leg, 2-0 at the Etihad on the return. In the first leg, the two teams went head to head in a high-level duel, particularly in the first half. The Skyblues made the decision thanks to a free kick from Riyad Mahrez which miraculously pierced the wall and a goal from Kevin De Bruyne on which the Parisian defense, and in particular Keylor Navas, hero of the previous rounds (Barça, Bayern), had shone by his passivity. The expulsion of Gana Gueye (77th) did not help... Affected before this meeting, Kylian Mbappé had gone through it before... forfeiting the return. Without his arrow, Mauricio Pochettino had opted for a high block. City quickly found the fault in depth, on a clearance from Ederson poorly appreciated by Alessandro Florenzi, also at fault for the second goal. And Paris broke down mentally at the end, like the expulsion of Di Maria. So close, so far...