Paris’ record in the UEFA Champions League last 16

Year: 2012 – 2013

Opponent: Valencia

Aggregate score: 3-2

Progress: Quarter final loss to Barcelona

Paris took on Valencia in the first-leg of the UCL knock-out phase at the imposing Mestalla stadium on the Spanish coast. The French club managed to put in an impressive performance over 90 minutes and came away with all three points thanks to goals from Lavezzi and Pastore before half-time. A last minute consolation was just that from Valencia’s Rami.

At the Parc des Princes, the Argentine, Lavezzi got his name on the score sheet once again, all put confirming Les Rouge et Bleu’s passage to the quarter finals in the 66^th minute. Valencia were unable to get the two goals they needed to take the game into extra time and it was the Parisians who went through.

Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League ended that season in the quarter-finals with a two leg defeat to FC Barcelona. Despite putting in a spirited display at home in the first leg, the Catalan side were to progress on away goals, drawing a line under Paris’ European exploits for the season.

 

Year: 2013 – 2014

Opponent: Bayer Leverkuson

Aggregate score: 6-1

Progress: Quarter final loss to Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain began their knock-out phrase with one of the most memorable away trips in the club’s history with a 4-0 win at Bayer Leverkuson. Goals from Matuidi, Cabaye and two from Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed the victory at the Bay Arena.

In the second leg, whilst the German side took the lead after only six minutes, the Parisians replied quickly through Marquinhos before adding a knock-out blow early in the second half via Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Despite such a resounding aggregate score line against the Germans, the quarter-finals weren’t to be as open, and Paris went out, again on away goals as they had in the previous season, to English club Chelsea.

 

Year: 2014 – 2015

Opponent: Chelsea

Aggregate score: 3-3 (Paris progressed on away goals)

Progress: Quarter final loss to FC Barcelona

In mid-February 2015, Paris Saint-Germain had the opportunity for revenge on the club that knocked them out of European competition in the previous campaign, it was an opportunity they took full advantage of. Over a tense two legged tie, the French side repeatedly fought back against a confident Chelsea team.

The two matches followed a familiar pattern with the London club going ahead each time, but not before being pegged back level by Paris. Les Rouge et Bleu’s resilience brought the games to a head in extra-time at Stamford Bridge when they pulled back an extra-time winner through Thiago Silva to send them through to the quarter finals on away goals.

It was against eventual winners FC Barcelona whom Paris finally met their match, losing comprehensively 1-5 on aggregate.

 

Year: 2015 – 2016

Opponent: Chelsea

Aggregate score: 4-2

Progress: Quarter final loss to Manchester City

In Laurent Blanc’s last season at the helm at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the knock-out stages of the UEFA Champions League for a fourth season running. The pattern of qualification unfortunately mirrored a pattern of defeat, and it was again in the quarter finals that the Parisians would end their journey in the competition.

Another trend that was maintained was the third meeting in a row with Chelsea. This time, Paris didn’t need an away goal advantage and progressed with two 2-1 victories. Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading his side with a goal in each tie.

Despite a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Paris, the French side were unable to find that vital away goal in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium, going down 0-1, a score that put them out of the competition.

 

Year: 2016 – 2017

Opponent: Barcelona

Aggregate score: 5-6

Process: n/a

Few Paris Saint-Germain fans need reminding of how their club fared in the last 16 of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League. After a comprehensive 4-0 victory at home, FC Barcelona produced one of the more improbably results in the competition’s history.

The comeback at the Camp Nou meant the La Liga champions went through to a meeting with Juventus in the quarter-finals.

 

Year: 2017-2018

Opponent: Real Madrid

Aggregate score: 5-2

Progress: n/a

After successive victories in the last 16, Paris Saint-Germain again found themselves leaving the UEFA Champions League in the first knock-out round, this time to eventual champions Real Madrid. The 12 times winners of the competition hosted Paris for the first leg, and showed their ruthlessness immediately. Cristiano Ronaldo, a specialist in the UCL scored twice with Marcelo offering a third, putting the game to bed with a 3-1 victory.

A second-leg tie brought nearly the same result for the Spanish titans, a 2-1 victory being the reward for a confident performance that Paris combat without their talisman, Neymar Jr, who had picked up a foot injury earlier in the campaign that ended his season.