50 legendary matches: The first Coupe de la Ligue for Paris!

3 May 1995, Paris Saint-Germain and SC Bastia come face to face in the first ever final of the Coupe de la Ligue. After threatening to send a weakened side in protest over the decision to host the match at the Parc des Princes, the side from Corsica opted to field their best starting eleven. For the men from the capital, Bernard Lama and Daniel Bravo were on the bench and were replaced by Luc Borrelli and Bernard Allou respectively.

In front of only 24,663 spectators, the match quickly got going: after a strike at goal from Bastia's Bruno Rodriguez (2'), Rai came close but his diving header just slipped past the post (3'). The match continued in that light and George Weah got through one-on-one with Bruno Valencony, but the Corsican keeper pushed his effort away (8'). It was then Rodriguez's chance to put the Parisians under pressure once more, but Borrelli stood strong (9'). Paul Le Guen struck the post directly from a corner (18') and then Paris took the lead when the Frenchman's free-kick found the head of Roche (1-0, 21').

Despite protests from the Bastiais, the Paris Saint-Germain captain had lightly pushed his man just before connecting with the ball, but SCB weren't going to allow this to stop them. Borrelli was called into action by another effort from Rodriguez (33') and then by a shot from Anton Drobjnak (35'). The Paris keeper was finally beaten by an effort from Drobjnak just under the bar, but the referee incorrectly disallowed the goal for an imaginary offside (44'), and PSG headed into the dressing rooms with a one goal advantage.

Paris were disappointing after the break, with very quiet performances from the Weah-Ginola duo. Antoine Kombouaré saved his side as Drobjnak posed a threat (59'), then Luis Fernandez made a change which saw Le Guen replaced by Bravo (58') and Ginola by Pascal Nouma (60'). And the latter took no time to spring into action as he struck at goal, only for his effort to be turned away by Valencony (62'). Paris Saint-Germain ensured the victory when Allou's cross was headed home by Rai (2-0, 84').

Les Rouge et Bleu won this very first edition of the Coupe de la Ligue, Alain Roche lifted the trophy and Luis Fernandez remained extremely modest: "It wasn't at all easy. Bastia had nothing to lose and put in an excellent performance. We needed to win something, because we hadn't won anything else this season and that would have been serious. For me, for the players, for the owners and for the fans, it's important." The club from the capital secured its first Coupe de la Ligue-Coupe de France double in its history, beating Strasbourg in the final (1-0).

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN - SC BASTIA: 2-0 (1-0)
Coupe de la Ligue - Final
Parc des Princes - 24 663 spectators
Referee: Marcel Lainé.
Goals: Roche (21') and Rai (84').
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Borrelli - Llacer, Roche (c), Ricardo, Kombouaré - Guerin, Allou, Le Guen (Bravo, 58'), Rai - Weah, Ginola (Nouma, 60'). Coach: Luis Fernandez.
BASTIA: Valencony - Burnier, Leclerc, Santini, Debu - Faye, Casanova (c) (Rool, 17'), Ziani, Vandecasteele - Drobjnak, Rodriguez (Camadini, 82'). Coach: Frédéric Antonetti.

The Coupe de la Ligue victories in images >>>