50 Legendary Matches: The return of the Parisian derby!
As Paris Saint-Germain celebrates it's 50th birthday this year, PSG.FR takes a look back at 50 matches that shaped the history of Les Rouge et Bleu. Today, we look back to the Parisian derby between Paris Saint-Germain and Paris FC in 1978!
On 18 August 1978, the Capital finally had a derby to savour at the Parc des Princes (Red Star play in Saint-Ouen and so they are not considered to be a club from the Capital).
It was a first since 19 February 1967 when Racing Paris came up against Stade Français at the former Parc des Princes, in front of 2,658 spectators and the match came to a close without any goals (0-0)...
This derby was also a duel between two teams who had started their league campaigns badly. Paris Football Club (19th before the derby) who had just been promoted, were solely focused on securing the club's survival in the top flight and started with two graduates from the Camp des Loges, Michel Bensoussan and Lionel Justier.
Paris Saint-Germain's start to their campaign (sitting in 17th place, with only one victory in 5 matches) was even more worrying, despite the reinforcement of the two Dominiques (Baratelli and Bathenay) who had both represented the French national side.
25,000 spectators were present for the worrying derby and the start of the game remained balanced. Carlos Bianchi troubled Michel Bensoussan (8') before opening the scoring from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the box (1-0, 16').
Paradoxically, Paris Saint-Germain lost shape and allowed their opponents to dominate the game. Francis Smerecki (25') then Yves Mariot (33') showed promise for Paris FC. Paris Saint-Germain continued to look dangerous on the counter attack, François M’Pelé headed just wide of the target (26'), then an effort Mustapha Dahleb was cleared off the line by Lamri Laachi (32').
In the second half, the jitters continued: Dominique Bathenay struck the bar (47') and in the minute that followed, Paris FC equalised through Bernard Lech (1-1, 48'). Four minutes later, Eric Renaut scored with a diving header from Dominique Bathenay's free-kick (2-1, 52'). It was a lead that was far from decisive as Nebojsa Zlataric equalised with an acrobatic effort (2-2, 59'). The score would remain as it was and the two teams left the field with a point each, a very disappointing result for Paris Saint-Germain.
The coach Jean-Michel Larqué confirmed that feeling: "I am dumbfounded because I was certain that we were going to win this match. You would think that the team was made up of different trios working in isolation and ignoring the progression of the ball."
Three days later, the former St-Etienne playmaker brought his coaching days to an end in order to focus on his playing days, after a very disappointing derby for Les Rouge et Bleu…
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN - PARIS FC: 2-2 (1-0)
French League - Matchday 6
Parc des Princes (Paris)
Goals: Bianchi (16', pen.) and Renaut (52') for Paris Saint-Germain, Lech (49') and Zlataric (59') for Paris FC.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Baratelli - Douis, Morin, Renaut, Pilorget - Bathenay, Adams, M’Pelé - Nosibor, Dahleb - Bianchi. Coach : Jean-Michel Larqué.
PARIS FC : Bensoussan - Thouvenel, Laachi, Eo, Justier - Huck, Lech, Smerecki - Zlataric, Mariot (Vendrely, 69') - Beltramini (Caron, 67'). Coach: Robert Vicot.
