Other Competitions
Ligue 1 vs. Manchester United: A history
Ahead of their Europa League quarterfinal against Olympique Lyonnais, here's our look back at some memorable clashes between Manchester United and French sides in European competition. The Red Devils have faced down French opponents more than thirty times, dating to an Intercities Fairs tie against RC Strasbourg some sixty years ago. Ahead of tomorrow's clash with Les Gones, we look back at five of the most memorable encounters.
1997-98 Champions League quarterfinals: AS Monaco 1-1 Manchester United (Monaco advance on away goals)
Six years before their courageous run to the Champions League final, a hungry AS Monaco under Jean Tigana knocked off the hosts thanks to an early David Trezeguet goal in the second leg. While Manchester United would respond in the second half, a young side boasting the likes of Thierry Henry, Willy Sagnol and Fabien Barthez (who would later join the English side) kept them at bay to advance in a monumental upset.
2007-08 Champions League Round of 16: Olympique Lyonnais 1-2 Manchester United
In Karim Benzema's final season at the Stade Gerland, Lyon were agonizingly close to heading across the channel with a 1-0 lead thanks to the young Frenchman's early goal, but Carlos Tevez responded three minutes from time to level the tie. In the return leg at Old Trafford, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the game's only goal, and despite Kader Keita hitting the post, Les Gones were unable to take the tie into added time.
2016-17 Europa League Round of 32: AS Saint-Étienne 0-4 Manchester United
While not especially memorable for its character on the pitch, this match pitted Sainté defender Florentin Pogba against his brother Paul. A Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat trick in the first leg all but settled the tie, but the competition went far better for Les Verts' derby rivals as Lyon would reach the competition's semifinals.
2018-19 Champions League Round of 16: Manchester United 3-3 Paris Saint-Germain (Manchester United advance on away goals)
Short of La Remontada, this defeat is one of the more frustrating in the capital side's history, but it's one which came in a season full of comebacks (Ajax beating Real Madrid, Liverpool beating Barcelona, Juventus beating Atlético Madrid). After a comprehensive win at the Parc des Princes thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé and Presnel Kimpembe, PSG withstood a Romelu Lukaku double until added time when Marcus Rashford's penalty in the fourth minute of added time would turn the tie in heartbreaking fashion for Thomas Tuchel's men.
2020-21 Champions League Group Stage: Manchester United 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
While Ligue 1 sides have struggled in encounters this century against their opponents, there remains on optimism on the basis of their most recent matchup: a comprehensive away victory by Paris Saint-Germain. At Old Trafford, the hosts were thoroughly humbled, with Neymar scoring a brace and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side finishing with ten men. PSG would go on to reach the semifinals that season in the competition, despite falling short of catching LOSC Lille in the title race.
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