Lisbon (AFP)

Few of them braved the health restrictions to gather in Lisbon, some supporters still rejoiced when they witnessed the victory of Paris SG in various bars in the Portuguese capital on Tuesday in the semi-final of the Champions League against Leipzig (3 -0).

"We're in the final!" and "Thank you Paris", chanted at the final whistle the small crowd gathered in a sports bar in the center of Lisbon which has become the landmark for passing supporters and French expatriates who are keen on football.

"We came to Lisbon and we wrote the history of French football," exclaimed Youssef Regragui, a 37-year-old fan who came from Sochaux on purpose.

"It's been years that we wanted to compete with the big clubs in Europe," commented to AFP Frédéric Mamotte, expatriate in Portugal for five months, already planning the final which will oppose PSG on Sunday against the winner of the second semi-final between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyonnais, played on Wednesday.

- "Beautiful for France" -

"If we play Lyon it would be really nice for France," added this 34-year-old salesman, especially since OL would be a less formidable opponent than "the German ogre".

For Stéphane Bourgade, owner of the establishment, the Champions League has awakened "a real fervor" among the supporters of Paris and Lyon, whether they are "supporters, expatriates or vacationers".

While trying to enforce barrier gestures to his customers, some 150 people housed in a room of 180 square meters, this 55-year-old Frenchman is indulgent towards those who come to "experience the emotion of football after months of frustration ".

An hour and a half before kick-off, there were a few dozen PSG supporters to welcome the French champions when their bus arrived at the Luz stadium. Held at a distance by the local police, some of them were still able to deploy a banner reading "Lisboa will be red and blue".

Christophe Villat was one of the few fans to have made the trip to Portugal especially to follow his team as closely as possible. "I was hot to come as soon as this format was announced and I thought that things would happen, but in fact it's a bit dead", testified this young man of 33 years from Angoulême.

- "Fear of the Covid" -

"People are afraid of the Covid" and fans have "no access" to matches or training for their teams, or even to any "fan zone", argued Patricia Marquis, a 46-year-old supporter. 'admits "disappointed" by the absence of a more festive atmosphere in Lisbon.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, gatherings of more than ten people and the consumption of alcohol in public spaces are prohibited throughout the Lisbon metropolitan area.

"It's complicated to live like that at a historic moment" for the French club, which played its first C1 semi-final on Tuesday since 1995, added this supporter who "celebrated for three days" in Brussels in 1996 for celebrate PSG's victory in the Cup final against Rapid Vienna.

On the German side, Leipzig made up for the lack of supporters in Lisbon by offering themselves thousands of advertising inserts before the start of the "Final 8" in the streets of the city to make their team known ... with the former Parisian Christopher Nkunku headlining!

© 2020 AFP