Paris Saint-Germain and the Coupe de France: Part II (1990s)
The Coupe de France is more than just a tradition! This Saturday, against Rennes, the capital club will take part in its 17th final and, above all, go in search of a record 13th title. All week leading up to the big day, PSG.FR will take a trip down memory lane, stopping off at each of the Rouge et Bleu's finals in the 1990s...
Act IV - 12 June 1993, at the Parc des Princes: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 FC Nantes
It was fate! Almost ten years to the day since the Coupe de France victory over Nantes (3-2), Les Parisiens were back in the final and against the Canaries! The turning point of this final came just before half-time when Nante’s Christian Karembeu was sent off after the referee awarded a penalty to Les Rouge et Bleu. Antoine Kombouaré scored (49’), before David Ginola curled home a sublime free-kick (55’) and Alain Roche headed home a third (60’). Paris were three goals to the good and finished the match three men to the good after two more red cards saw Nantes finish the game with ten men! The Cup was coming home!
Act V - 13 May 1995, at the Parc des Princes: Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 RC Strasbourg Alsace
Ten days after clinching the first-ever Coupe de la Ligue and a 2-0 win over Bastia, Paris Saint-Germain were looking for a first-ever Cup double. Set up by Rai, Paul Le Guen let fly with a stunning left-foot finish into the top corner of Alexander Vencel’s goal (48’)! It was the only goal of the game as Les Rouge et Bleu nabbed their fourth Coupe de France ‘at home’ in front of 47,000 at the Parc!
Act VI - 2 May 1998, at the Stade de France: Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 RC Lens
There was a new setting as the Coupe de France final moved to the brand new Stade de France. But this match will also be remembered as Rai’s last ever appearance in Rouge et Bleu. Every legend leaves on a high and the Brazilian duly opened the scoring with a superb header against the future Ligue 1 champions (24’). Marco Simone then blasted home a second beyond Guillaume Warmuz (53’), and despite Vladimir Smicer’s consolation goal (83’) Paris were home and hosed. A month after lifting the Coupe de la Ligue (against Bordeaux, at the Stade de France with goals from Rai and Simone!), the capital club completed a second double! France weren’t yet World Cup winners at the Stade de France, but Paris had already won over the new stadium…
Friday: Four finals and two Cups in the 2000s
Paris Saint-Germain and the Coupe de France: Part I (1980s) >>>