You only had to see the joy on the faces of Luis Enrique and his players to realise the scale of the feat PSG had just achieved.
On the pitch at the Allianz Arena, where only Mainz, Augsburg and Heidenheim had remained unbeaten this season, they not only secured their place in the Champions League final at the expense of Germany’s top team, but also earned entry into an exclusive club reserved for those who have made history.
PSG alongside Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus
When they opened its doors last night, the Parisians were able to meet some of the most illustrious clubs of all time. All of them share one thing in common: having managed to qualify for a Champions League final (or European Cup, as it was formerly known) on two consecutive occasions. An exploit fairly common in the last century, but much rarer over the past three decades.
As proof, in the 21st century, alongside PSG, only Manchester United in 2009 and Real Madrid in 2017 and 2018 have achieved such a milestone. In fact, Real Madrid hold the record for the most finals contested following a title win, with six appearances, four of which came between 1957 and 1960. Next come Ajax Amsterdam (1972, 1973, 1996), AC Milan (1990, 1995), Liverpool (1978, 1985), Bayern Munich (1975, 1976) and Benfica (1962, 1963). Juventus (1997), Nottingham Forest (1980) and Inter Milan (1965) have also already secured their place in the elite. There were 10; there will now be 11.
For PSG, the objective is now clear: to retain their crown. Something that 15 of the 21 defending champions who reached the final in the season following their conquest have managed to do, representing a success rate of 71%.
