Retro Champions League: the epic run of the Parisians

5 months after competitive football halted, the Paris Saint-Germain players had an emotion-packed time in Lisbon, in the final tournament of the Champions League, reaching the final of the most prestigious of competitions. A look back at a unique season. 

It was at the Parc des Princes that the European adventure started for the Parisians. On September 18 the capital club returned to continental competition, hosting Real Madrid. And in the first match, Thomas Tuchel's men set the tone, scoring a big win against Zinedine Zidane's team. Di Maria scored a wonderful double, Thomas Meunier got on the scoresheet and there were two assists from Juan Bernat, the team laying down a marker from the start (3-0).

The rest of the group stage saw the team demonstrate their strength, never losing, and finishing with the best attack and the best defence in the groups. Next up was a win in the white-hot atmosphere of Galatasaray in Turkey, where Mauro Icardi scored his first European goal in Rouge et Bleu colours (0-1).

In Belgium there was a spectacular demonstration of quality against Club Brugge, both from a team and an individual perspective: two goals by Mauro Icardi and an incredible appearance off the bench by Kylian Mbappé, just back from injury and scoring a hat-trick, while Angel Di Maria delighted with three assists (0-5). The huge margin was deserved and two weeks later Brugge were seen off again, at the Parc des Princes, where Mauro Icardi punished the visitors (1-0).

The return games continued in Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, where Paris had to show character to withstand Real's assaults. Goals by Kylian Mbappé and Pablo Sarabia meant the Parisians had left it late but departed with a draw and remained unbeaten in the competition (2-2). Finishing off the group stage in style, the attackers were to the fore again: Mauro Icardi, Pablo Sarabia, Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappé and Edinson Cavani all found the back of the net against Galatasaray, finishing off a group stage that Paris controlled from start to finish (5-0).

Two months later, into the new calendar year and after the winter break, the Parisians returned to European competition in the Round of 16 at a frosty Signal Iduna Park. Borussia Dortmund caught the Parisians cold, despite the goal scored by Neymar Jr, and Dortmund's star was young Erling Haaland (1-2). That first act demanded a second and a month later revenge was in the air at the capital club. 

That evening, up against it and with the disadvantage of playing behind closed doors, and the glass ceiling that had obstructed ambitions, it was on a mission that the players approached the game. Willed on by all connected to the club, the Rouge et Bleu turned the tie around, killing off BVB's hopes, and qualified for the quarter-finals. The City of Lights electrified by its combatants, with Neymar Jr and Juan Bernat the detonators (2-0).

After the exultation came the cold shower and the interminable wait amidst the global health crisis. The comeback came 5 months later, in exile in Lisbon and in a bubble. No matter the unprecedented conditions, the Parisians had a date with history and Atalanta on the day of the 50th anniversary of the club. It was a match full of emotion as the club with the most prolific attack in Italy opened the scoring. But the Parisians left their souls on the pitch. 90' and 93': two goals, the qualification and the turnaround completed right at the end of proceedings with so much desire (1-2). Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the hero of the night, thrilled supporters back home by taking Paris into the semis for the first time in 25 years... 

In the last four, the Parisians managed to respond in style to the tactical posers set by the RB Leipzig of Julian Nagelsmann, a former player under Thomas Tuchel, as destinies collided. With Angel Di Maria on one of his great nights (the scorer of a goal and supplier of two assists), with defenders again scoring (Marquinhos and Bernat), the Parisians were calm and in control, playing with tactical intelligence and for each other at every instant (0-3). For the first time in the club's history, Paris Saint-Germain were into the final of the most prestigious of competitions.

The final, against the Bavarian giants of Bayern Munich, saw Paris lose by the smallest of margins (0-1). The Champions League book closed in the Portuguese capital, the theatre of Parisian exploits, of emotions, and so much effort at all times. Stage after stage, the club's epic European run cemented a family, one that's growing all the time.