Trophée des Champions: five legendary matches

Paris Saint-Germain, winners of Ligue 1 McDonald's and the Coupe de France last season, will face the runners-up in the league last year, Olympique de Marseille, in the Trophée des Champions in Kuwait on Thursday. Ahead of that encounter, we look at some of the classic past editions of the Trophée des Champions.

Monaco 5-2 Nice - 1997

A Côte d'Azur derby, held in Béziers, is one of the historic past encounters. The two local rivals made the trip down the coast to face off in this headline fixture. Having finished as champions of Ligue 1 McDonald's the previous season, Monaco headed into the game as favourites and quickly showed why, with Fabian Lefevre on the scoresheet in just the third minute. By the 17th minute, the Principality club were already 3-0 up, thanks to a quickfire double from Japhet N'Doram.

Another goal for Monaco, this time delivered by Victor Ikepba, ensured that Jean Tigana's men were well in control heading into the break. It was an attacking spectacle in the first half and there were another three goals in the second. James Debbah gave Nice a glimmer of hope, but that quickly evaporated when Les Monégasques legend David Trezeguet scored the Principality club's fifth. Franco Vignola got a late consolation for Le Gym in a thrilling seven-goal encounter.

Lyon 4-1 Auxerre - 2005

It was another one-sided but very exciting affair in 2005. Auxerre had the pleasure of playing this edition of the Trophée des Champions at their own stadium, the Stade de l'Abbé Deschamps.

However, it was Hatem Ben Arfa, a stalwart of Ligue 1 McDonald's, who, back then, was just making his name, who got on the scoresheet for Lyon, netting from the spot in just the second minute. But L'AJA, in front of nearly 11,000 fans at their home ground, equalised just minutes later through Lionel Mathis.

But this day would not belong to Mathis or Auxerre; it would belong to Lyon and Jonathan Carew. The Norwegian forward ensured that Gérard Houllier's side headed into the break 2-1 ahead, and his quickfire double, either side of the hour mark, ensured that OL won the Trophée des Champions for a fourth consecutive season.

Marseille 5-4 Lille - 2011

Perhaps the most spectacular of all Trophée des Champions encounters. This is a game that burst into life in the second half. Florent Balmont gave Lille the lead in the first half, and it wasn't until the 57th minute that Rudi Garcia's side would double their lead thanks to a certain Eden Hazard, who today celebrates his 35th birthday.

Thereafter, the game burst into life. André Ayew halved the advantage in the 71st minute but just seconds later, Moussa Sow's goal for LOSC put them back in the driving seat and re-established a two-goal cushion.

But Lille's advantage was completely wiped out in the space of just three minutes. Jérémy Morel halved the advantage and in the 87th minute, Loïc Rémy equalised. It set up a frantic end to the encounter.

Ayew doubled his account on the night and gave Marseille the lead from the spot, only for Marko Basa to level the game at 4-4 less than one minute later. But it was Ayew who would have the last, netting his third and his second from the spot in the 95th minute to crown an exceptional comeback for Didier Deschamps' side.

PSG 2-1 Bordeaux - 2013

It was another comeback that decided the 2013 edition of the competition. PSG had just been taken over by QSI and were a burgeoning force in the French game. A team including the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Motta, Javier Pastore, Blaise Matuidi, and Thiago Silva fell behind to Bordeaux thanks to a first-half goal from Henri Saivet.

It took until the 81st minute for Les Parisiens to get on the scoresheet and it was substitute Hervin Ongenda who got on the scoresheet ahead of a dramatic finish with another substitute, Alex, netting the winner in injury time; it was the third time that Les Parisiens had won the trophy at the time.

Marseille 0-0 PSG - 2010

PSG have now won the Trophée des Champions 13 times and they could win it for a 14th time on Thursday, when there will be a repeat of the 2010 edition. This one was a close affair. This encounter, held in Tunis, and is, to date, the most well-attended edition, with 57,000 in attendance for this Classique.

Whilst the first 90 minutes may not have been an absolute classic, the penalty shoot-out was a nervy and closely-contested affair. It was Steve Mandanda who proved the hero of the night, decisively stopping Ludovic Giuly's spot-kick to hand Deschamps' OM victory in Tunisia.

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