The French have been craving for a top club to represent the nation in Europe. While PSG is the team that ticks all the boxes, they simply have found the going extremely tough in Champions League since the start.
Champions of France, they literally sweep domestic titles every year, but it is in the Champions League that they have suffered their crushing defeats. We take a look at 10 such losses that matter the most.
10. Rennes 2 – 1 Paris St. Germain, 2019-2020 Ligue 1
The 2019-20 season started on all the wrong notes for Paris as star man Neymar wanted out amidst rumors that former club Barcelona and Los Blancos were interested in his services.
It was thus necessary that Thomas Tuchel’s side made a statement against Rennes. Edinson Cavani gave the lead early, but Rennes fought back with a couple of goals to win 2-1 on the night.
9. Montpellier 3 – 2 Paris St. Germain, 2018-19 Ligue 1
Thomas Tuchel’s first season in charge at PSG didn’t end on the right note. In fact, their away form was so bad that they lost 3 away games in a row for the first time since 2010.
Having lost at Rennes and Auxuerre, PSG traveled to Montpellier, got a couple of goals, but late goals from Montpellier ruined the night for Neymar & Co.
8. Paris St. Germain 2 – 2 (5 – 6) Rennes, 2018-19 Coupe de France
For a club with players like Neymar, Mbappe, Cavani, Angel di Maria, Thiago Silva on their books, winning the French Cup should be child’s play.
That is how it has been for the past few years. But, in the Final of the French Cup of 2018-19, Rennes shocked PSG with a penalty shootout win after they had gone down 2-0, thanks to goals from PSG Brazil stars Dani Alves and Neymar.
7. Lille OSC 5 – 1 Paris St. Germain, 2018-19 Ligue 1
PSG’s biggest defeat in 10 years came at the hands of Lille, second in the league and challengers to PSG for the Ligue 1 title. Nicolas Pepe shone for Lille on a night when PSG could have wrapped up the title with a brace.
The match came up for much criticism as Thomas Tuchel’s team lacked motivation and vision to fall to Lille in match that should have been a statement making night after the crushing Manchester United defeat.
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6. Chelsea FC 2 – 0 Paris St. Germain, 2013-14 UEFA Champions League
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea were league leaders at the time they faced up to PSG in the Champions League Quarterfinal at the Stamford Bridge.
Having suffered a 3-1 defeat in the first leg, Chelsea came back strongly to peg PSG with goals from André Schürrle
and Demba Ba and win 2-0 on the night. Yet another return leg horrendous defeat for the Parisians.
5. Paris St. Germain 1 – 3 FC Barcelona, 2014-15 UEFA Champions League
Barcelona have broken Parisian hearts quite a number of times including the stunning 6-1 reversal. However, PSG’s defeat at the hands of Barca in the Quarterfinal stage of the Champions League stands out.
With the likes of Ibrahimovic and Cavani performing, PSG had eliminated Chelsea in the previous round and looking good to go deep. Barca visited Parc des Princes and scored thrice to run away 3-1 winners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YQMpCr8-vs
4. FC Barcelona 1 – 0 Paris St. Germain, 1997 Cup Winners’ Cup Final
PSG could have been one of the few teams to win consecutive European trophies, only to be beaten by Barcelona in the Final of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup by a Ronaldo penalty.
The holders PSG were still emerging forces in Europe and looking to stamp authority, having won the trophy last season against Rapid Vienna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ3F-IMQIJM
3. Paris St. Germain 1 – 2 Real Madrid, 2017-18 UEFA Champions League
PSG’s troubles in the Champions League continued in the 2017-18 edition as they were drawn against holders Real Madrid in the Round of 15 stage.
After Real won 2-0 in Madrid, PSG were expected to provide a response in Paris. However, Real ran riot at the Parc des Princes as well as goals from Ronaldo and Bale secured Real a 2-1 win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzl09maySgM
2. FC Barcelona 6 – 1 Paris St. Germain, 2016-17 UEFA Champions League
PSG had done the impossible in Paris, thrashing the Catalans 4-0 and keeping the famed MSN trio out.
However, Camp Nou saw that lead being overturned as Barca scored 6, including one in injury time through Sergio Roberto to cancel out the first leg lead as well as Cavani’s precious away goal.
One of the biggest nights for PSG in Champions League turned to dust in minutes.
1. Paris St. Germain 1 – 3 Manchester United, 2018-19 UEFA Champions League
The game that led to the Neymar departure controversy. Manchester United had been beaten 2-0 comfortably at home.
They traveled to Paris with an interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after having Jose Mourinho sacked.
A brace from Romelu Lukaku and an injury time penalty for Marcus Rashford made sure PSG suffered a shock exit from yet another Champions League Round of 16 stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX5I-Qh4NX4