PSG fell to a historic Champions League group with Juventus, Benfica and Haifa on Thursday. Eliminated by Maccabi in the first round of the Coupe des Coupes in 1998, still defeated at the Estadio da Luz, the Parisians have above all a difficult past with their opponent Turin, the main obstacle in this group stage.
In all its history, Paris have never beaten the Bianconeri, falling six times in eight European meetings. And the Old Lady has always lifted the trophy after crossing paths with PSG.
Season 83/84: “The waltz of regrets”
For their first confrontation, in the round of 16 of the Coupe des Coupes, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus leave on a parity score (2-2). A draw full of regrets for the Parisians, led by Safet Susic and Alain Couriol, who would have deserved a victory against the Ballons d’Or Michel Platini and Paolo Rossi (1983, 1984 and 1985 for the Frenchman, 1982 for the Italian) .
But the capital club failed to maintain the advantage gained before the break thanks to their French striker and saw Juve equalize and then lead with goals from Poland’s Zbigniew Boniek and Italy’s Antonio Cabrini. Even if Michel N’Gom snatches the equalizer, Turin will qualify ” italian style in the second leg (0-0), then won the competition by beating Porto in the final. ” In spite of all its meritorious efforts, Paris could not achieve the goal which it sought so much. It was unfortunate, but that’s how football sometimes goes “, wrote Victor Sinet in our columns on November 3, 1983.
Season 89/90: “The perfect crime”
Paris does not know it when approaching its second round of the UEFA Cup 1989-1990 but never again will it hold Juve in check, at least on the scoreboard. Although Les Rouge et Bleu got off to a good start in their first leg, they were caught on a counterattack after the hour mark and fell (0-1). ” The perfect crime writes Rémy Lacombe in L’Équipe on October 19.
In the return match, the dreams of exploits are still alive when Daniel Bravo equalizes at 1-1 at half an hour. But the Bianconeri carry “ Move of mercy Six minutes from time, on a strike from Luigi De Agostini deflected by Jean-Pierre Bosser (2-1, 3-1 overall). Juventus won the ancestor of the Europa League a few weeks later, against Fiorentina.
Season 92/93: “Incorrigible”
Once again Paris hangs Turin on the lawn, but once again the result is unfavorable to them. In the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, PSG suffered the same shortcomings that cost them serious road trips in their more recent history: they did not know how to hold a result. What Rémy Lacombe translates in one sentence: “ But when will the Parisians understand that a match lasts 90 minutes? »
While the draw in Italy seemed assured thanks to a goal from George Weah in the first period, Antoine Kombouaré is guilty of a fault in the last seconds of the match and Roberto Baggio finds the skylight (2-1). Two weeks later, this same Baggio scores again to dismiss PSG at the gates of the final. The Italians will win the trophy by beating Dortmund twice (3-1, 3-0).
Season 96/97: “Ridiculous! »
January 16, 1997, European Super Cup first leg final. The newspaper L’Équipe does not have a strong enough word to describe the performance of PSG which, the day before, gave up the final victory to Juve: ” Ridiculous ! “, we qualify this first leg won 6-1 by the Bianconeri. ” Juventus Turin won the second European Super Cup in its history last night. Because no one imagines that PSG, crushed 1-6 last night at home, can reverse the situation in a fortnight in Turin “, we write.
The words are harsh but up to the slap suffered by the capital club against Zinédine Zidane and his partners. Led 4-0 at half-time, booed by their public, the Parisians, winners of the Coupe des Coupes in 1996, saved their honor by Rai on penalty kicks after returning from the locker room. But the Brazilian does not prevent the rage of the then president, Michel Denisot, saying his ” shame “, nor the defeat in the return match despite a new penalty (3-1, 9-2 overall).
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