Everything about Paris - Clermont!
History, what's at stake and keys to the match! Find out everything you need to know before the kick-off of the 2021-2022 Ligue 1 matchday 5 game between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont Foot 63 at the Parc des Princes.
a bit of history...
Paris Saint-Germain-Clermont, first time in the league!
The two teams had never met in Ligue 1, and the Auvergne club will become the 55th opponent of the Rouge et Bleu in the top flight, the record number of games against Paris being held by Bordeaux (94 matches to date).
The only official match between the two teams remains a cruel memory for the club from the capital: on 1 February 1997, in the last 16 of the French Cup, Clermont caused a stir by eliminating PSG (4-4, 4-3 on penalties) when the Parisians were leading 4-1 before an unexpected end to the match.
Since then, the two teams have played each other once in a friendly, with the Parisians winning 2-0 in Blois on 19 July 2008.
It will also be the first match at the Parc des Princes for Clermont, who will become Paris Saint-Germain's 145th opponent at the Parc des Princes in official matches, succeeding Basaksehir and RB Leipzig. The Auvergne club also became the 64th French club to face the Parisians in official matches at the Porte d'Auteuil.
Six players have played for both clubs: Sylvain Armand, Loris Arnaud, Loïck Landre, Granddi Ngoyi, Bruno Rodriguez and Didier Toffolo. Thierry Coutard, a former PSG player, coached Clermont.
what's at stake...
The Parisians will be aiming for a 5-peat in Ligue 1 after wins at Troyes (2-1), Strasbourg (4-2), Brest (4-2) and Reims (2-0).
The Rouge et Bleu have only twice started the league with a 5-game winning streak (2017-2018 and 2018-2019).
Paris Saint-Germain are on an 11-game unbeaten run in the league (10 wins and one draw) since losing to Lille at Parc des Princes (0-1, 03/04/2021).
the keys to the match...
The Parisians have been on a roll since the start of the championship: they have already scored 12 goals in the first four Ligue 1 matches, which is the 3rd best performance in the club's history, after the 2017-2018 (14 goals) and 2018-2019 (13 goals) seasons.
99 official matches for Thilo Kehrer, who could therefore reach the symbolic milestone of 100 against Clermont.
Lionel Messi became the 476th player to wear the Rouge et Bleu colours in official matches since 1970 when the Parisians last played in Reims, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nuno Mendes could in turn start their Parisian career this afternoon against Clermont Foot.