Monaco vs PSG: The history of all-French European ties

The reigning champions take on AS Monaco in the Champions League play-offs for a place in the Round of 16, with the first leg at Stade Louis-II before the return at the Parc des Princes.

While all-French ties in UEFA competition remain rare, they are not unprecedented. Here’s a look back at the six previous Franco-French European clashes.

2025/26 – Champions League play-offs: PSG vs Brest (3-0, 7-0)

The most recent example came just last season, when Paris Saint-Germain faced Stade Brestois 29 in the inaugural play-off round of the revamped Champions League format.

PSG dominated the tie emphatically, winning 3-0 away before a 7-0 rout in Paris. That victory proved a springboard, as the capital club went on to lift the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history.

2009/10 – Champions League quarter-finals: Lyon vs Bordeaux (3-1, 0-1)

A place in the semi-finals was at stake when Olympique Lyonnais met FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

At Gerland, Lisandro López struck twice in a 3-1 first-leg victory, paving the way for Lyon’s historic first Champions League semi-final. Despite a 1-0 defeat in the return leg, OL advanced on aggregate before eventually falling to Bayern Munich in the last four.

It remains the only all-French tie in the Champions League proper beyond the group stage.

2004/05 – UEFA Cup Round of 16: Auxerre vs Lille (1-0, 0-0)

In what proved to be Guy Roux’s final European campaign, AJ Auxerre edged LOSC Lille thanks to a solitary goal from Kanga Akalé.

The tightly contested affair saw Auxerre progress, though their run ended in the next round against CSKA Moscow.

1998/99 – UEFA Cup third round: Marseille vs Monaco (1-0, 2-2)

Before their upcoming meeting, Monaco’s previous all-French European duel came against Olympique de Marseille.

A dramatic and ill-tempered tie saw three red cards across the two legs. Titi Camara proved decisive as Marseille edged the contest and later reached the UEFA Cup final in their centenary season, ultimately losing to Parma.

1997/98 – Intertoto Cup final: Lyon vs Montpellier (1-0, 3-2)

Twelve years before their clash with Bordeaux in the Champions League, Lyon had already faced French opposition in Europe.

They overcame Montpellier HSC over two legs in the Intertoto Cup final, dramatically overturning a 1-2 deficit in the second leg to win 3-2 late on. That success earned them UEFA Cup qualification and set the stage for a memorable victory over Inter Milan at San Siro later that season.

1995/96 – Intertoto Cup quarter-finals: Strasbourg vs Metz (2-0)

The very first all-French European tie came in August 1995, when RC Strasbourg Alsace defeated FC Metz.

After a Metz dismissal shifted the momentum, Strasbourg secured qualification before eventually bowing out to AC Milan in the UEFA Cup.