12th June 1971: a first title for Paris!
Exactly 52 years ago, on 12th June 1971, Paris Saint-Germain won their first major trophy: the Championnat National, now known as Ligue 2.
"Paris Saint-Germain crowned champions... Bouttier style!" That was France Football's headline, referring to French boxer Jean-Claude Bouttier, after Les Rouge et Bleu had taken home their first-ever title by finishing top of the Championnat National play-off group, following a three-way contest with the winners of the South division, Monaco, and the winners of the North division, Lille.
Paris, who had already secured promotion to the top flight after being crowned champions of the Centre division, were attempting to clinch their first trophy in France. After one 2-2 draw between Monaco and PSG was followed by another between Lille and Monaco, Les Parisiens had to beat LOSC to seal the Championnat National title.
With 4,755 spectators at the Stade Jean Bouin, it was Paris who dealt the first blow right from the outset, as Bernard Béreau opened the scoring after just 30 seconds (1-0, 1'), before Jacques Rémond successfully got himself on the end of a Jean-Claude Bras cross to double his side's lead (2-0, 20'). The capital club were deservedly in front at the break, but Lille weren't done just yet. Mane Bajić soon reduced the deficit to make the game interesting again (2-1, 52') before Patrick Chouvin missed the opportunity to equalise just three minutes later.
The game very much tipped into Paris's favour when Claude Dubaële inadvertently deflected Bernard Guignedoux's free kick into his own net (3-1, 68'), before Béreau's burst down the right wing led to a cross that was met by Bras, with the Paris striker laying the ball off to Michel Prost, who scored with a superb half-volley (4-1, 80'). Paris Saint-Germain were out of sight by this point and were crowned second-division champions despite a late goal for Lille through Dubaële (4-2, 88').
After a deserved win to wrap things up, Paris Saint-Germain finished the season as the only team across the North, Centre and South divisions to have suffered no more than two defeats in the entire campaign. It was also the first title for a team from Paris since Racing Club de France's Coupe de France win in 1949 and the first in a long line of successes for Paris Saint-Germain, who are now the most decorated team in France.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 4-2 LOSC LILLE (2-0 at HT)
Saturday 12th June 1971
Stade Jean Bouin – 4,755 spectateurs
Referee: André Petit.
Goals: Béreau (1'), Rémond (20'), Guignedoux (68') and Prost (80') for Paris Saint-Germain; Bajić (52') and Dubaële (88') for Lille.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Choquier – Djorkaeff, Mitoraj, Fitte-Duval, Cruz – Destrumelle, Béreau – Guignedoux, Rémond, Prost, Bras. Manager: Pierre Phelipon.
LOSC LILLE: Delangre – Loup, Laffont, Vernoux, Gianquinto – Verhoeve, Škrbić – Bajić, Chouvin, Dubaële, de Martigny. Manager: René Gardien.
