From Paris to Marseille, via Lille and Bordeaux, several French clubs have experienced big setbacks on the European scene.
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The sinking of Lens on the Arsenal pitch (6-0), Wednesday November 29, is the largest defeat of a French club in the history of the Champions League. The performance of the Sang et Or enters the pantheon of the biggest slaps received by a team in the French championship in all European competitions. Before them, six other French clubs had already suffered a defeat by at least five goals on the European stage (Cities Fairs Cup excluded).
Barcelona-PSG: 6-1, 2016-2017 Champions League
It was a match that left its mark. On March 8, 2017, PSG suffered one of the most resounding defeats in the history of European Cups against Barcelona, in the round of 16 second leg of C1. Winners of the first leg (4-0), the Parisians were waiting to confirm their qualification. But everything went wrong at the Camp Nou. Transfixed from the first minutes of play, surprisingly feverish, they saw the goals go by. Until Sergi Roberto’s recovery at the end of added time, who had qualified Barça, and made the term comeback part of history.
Bayern Munich-Lille: 6-1, 2012-2013 Champions League
In a dismal Champions League campaign, Lille, like its neighbor Lensois, also conceded a heavy defeat in the group stage. On the verge of elimination after three defeats in as many matches, Rudi Garcia’s Mastiffs exploded on the pitch of Bayern Munich, future European champion. While Peruvian international Claudio Pizarro scored a hat-trick, Losc became the first team in the history of the Champions League to trail 5-0 at half-time. Officially eliminated from the race for the round of 16 after this rout, Lille finished in last place in their group.
Parma-Bordeaux: 6-0, 1998-1999 UEFA Cup
Before Lens, the last 6-0 conceded by a French club on the European scene dates back to March 16, 1999. That day, the Girondins de Bordeaux were corrected by Parma of Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram and Hernan Crespo, in the quarterfinals. second leg of the UEFA Cup final. The Argentine center forward also left his mark on this great success, with a double, an assist, and a constant presence. Bordeaux defender Nisa Saveljic had completely missed his match, causing the penalty for the last goal by grabbing the ball in his hand during the game in a completely incomprehensible manner.
PSG-Juventus: 1-6, European Super Cup 1996-1997
Before Barça’s comeback, PSG had already suffered a terrible 6-1. In the first leg of the 1997 European Super Cup final, the Parisians, winners of the C2 a few months earlier, were extinguished by Juventus. Returning from winter preparation in Reunion, and without Nicolas Anelka, not on the match sheet, the capital club had failed, like Bruno N’Gotty, guilty of the first two goals. They even finished the match at 10 with the expulsion of Laurent Fournier.
Roma-Bordeaux: 5-0, 1990-1991 UEFA Cup
The Bordelais had a difficult time against Italian clubs. In the spring of 1990, they fell heavily to Roma in the round of 16 first leg of the UEFA Cup. The Girondins were notably weighed down by three errors from their goalkeeper, Joseph-Antoine Bell, with a ball slipped from his hands and two phantom exits. Blunders which had benefited a strong Rudi Völler, author of a hat-trick, and who had tormented the Bordeaux rearguard.
Cologne-Marseille: 6-0, 1973/74 UEFA Cup
Few traces and stories of this correction received in Germany, coupled with an elimination in the round of 16, exist on the Internet. Neither video nor image. From this November 6, 1973, only the big score remains inflicted on the team of Marius Trésor, Victor Zvunka and Josip Skoblar. The winners of Euro 1972 with West Germany, Dieter Müller and Johannes Löhr, each went there with their double. In an archive from December 14, 1973, the newspaper The world looks back on this disastrous day by announcing the elimination of Nice, also a victim in the next round of Cologne that season in the UEFA Cup: “Six goals scored and almost as many missed opportunities. The Marseillais won the first leg 2-0: in nine minutes, this handicap was overcome by the Germans, who subsequently had fun with their opponents “.