An intense happiness, but far from being a first. If the PSG celebrated as it should its qualification against Atalanta Bergamo, it does not arrive on unknown ground, far from it. By returning to the semi-finals of the Champions League after 25 years of absence, Paris SG is indeed returning to its golden age in Europe where it had chained, from 1993 to 1997, five semi-finals in a row in cups of 'Europe. With a record of three defeats for only two victories at this stage of the competition, the 2020 version of PSG will be keen to rebalance the counters against Leipzig, this Tuesday at 9 p.m., for its sixth appearance in a last European square. Flash back.
UEFA Cup 1992-1993, PSG-Juventus (1-2, 0-1): the shattered dream
A baptism of fire that turns into a nightmare. After having achieved the feat of affording Real in the quarterfinals, PSG falls for its first European semi-final on its pet peeve: Juventus Turin, who have already beaten him twice on the way to European consecration , during campaigns 83-84 then 89-90.
Defeated 2-1 in Italy, the Parisians still believe in it a quarter of an hour from the end of the return match at the Parc des Princes, when the score is 0-0. A golden opportunity presents itself when George Weah is tackled in the box. Everyone sees the foul and the penalty ... except the referee. Finally, Roberto Baggio strikes again and shower the hopes of Parisians.
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Cup 1993-1994, PSG-Arsenal (1-1, 0-1): the missed opportunity
The competition is different, the opponent too, but PSG still stalls. In the first leg, led to the score in its den, the French club equalizes thanks to David Ginola. A Bernard Lama of the great evenings then succeeds in containing the thrusts of the Gunners. The two teams separate in a draw, Paris can still believe it.
But in Highbury, the Parisians were caught in the 6th minute by a header from Kevin Campbell. The future champions of France will then have many opportunities to come back, without success.
Champions League 1994-1995, PSG-AC Milan (0-1, 0-2): never two without three
Like its eternal rival, Olympique de Marseille, which two years earlier had conquered the supreme title, PSG dreams of climbing onto the roof of Europe. Coincidence of fate, it is precisely against the unfortunate opponent of Marseille, AC Milan, that Paris will have to conquer its place for the last round of the competition.
After having defeated Barça, Luis Fernandez's men arrive confident against the defending champion. At home on the way, they resist beautifully ... until the last minute. But a goal from Zvonimir Boban (90 + 1) comes to dampen their hopes. The return to San Siro promises to be an almost impossible mission: Silvio Berlusconi's team have been unbeaten at home in the European Cup since 1986! And in its garden, AC Milan largely dominates the debates and once again stops the Parisians at the gates of the final.
Cup 1995-1996, PSG-La Coruna (1-0, 1-0): the consecration
The fourth attempt will be the right one for Paris. In Spain, the scenario begins as against AC Milan a year earlier: it is a goal in the very last seconds that will seal the outcome of the game. But this time, it is the PSG which registers it. In the return match, for its 500th official match at the Parc des Princes, PSG is therefore for the first time in a favorable waiver.
And it is Patrice Loko who will deliver the Parisians in the 56th minute, scoring the only goal of the meeting. Paris won its first qualification for a European Cup final, before winning the title against Rapid Vienna.
1996-1997 Cup Cup, PSG-Liverpool (3-0, 0-2): the roller coaster
Holding the title, PSG fully intends to repeat the feat. Conquerors at the Park, the Parisians reverse the red tide of Liverpool, with a final score: 3-0. But, arriving at Anfield with a comfortable lead, PSG saw the Reds regain hope thanks to Robbie Fowler, scorer in the 12th minute, and Mark Wright, almost an hour later.
Paris trembles to the end, but does not sink. Qualified for his second European final, however, he will eventually lay down his arms against Barça, who steals the trophy from him and deprives him of the double.