PSG welcomes Atlético de Madrid this Wednesday in the Champions League (9 p.m.), and hopes to extend the success of Ligue 1 clubs against those of La Liga this season. An unusual balance of power which surprises more than one in Spain.
“What's going on? What is this nonsense? Is this the decommissioning?” Leaving the Atlético store in the center of Madrid, Walter wonders. Like many football fans in Spain, this Colchoneros supporter does not understand. Why are La Liga clubs only losing to the French this season in the Champions League?
This Wednesday, Atlético travels to the Parc des Princes to challenge PSG (9 p.m.). If Paris wins, it would be the fourth time that a Ligue 1 club would emerge victorious from a Franco-Spanish duel in this edition of the C1. For the moment, it's flawless for the French teams: three victories in three matches. Monaco got the ball rolling by surprising Barça (2-1), then Lille achieved the feat of bringing down Real Madrid (1-0) and Atlético de Madrid (1-3) in quick succession.
“The habit of taking these matches lightly”
“It’s true that it’s quite an unusual situation,” notes Ben Fernandes Santos, journalist for the Spanish media Okdiario. “Here in Spain, we think our championship is better than Ligue 1. So I think Spanish teams often have the habit of taking these matches lightly.” In fact, Spain is 3rd in the UEFA rankings, France 5th. Historically, twenty Champions Leagues have been won by Iberian clubs, only one by a French team (OM in 1993). From the first hours of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the Franco-Spanish duels have regularly turned in favor of our neighbors. In 1956, then in 1959, Real Madrid brought down Stade de Reims in the final.
In recent history, you don't have to go back that far to see the French winning. Last season, PSG eliminated Real Sociedad then FC Barcelona. PSG, okay, but what about Monaco and Lille against the Spaniards? Already in 2021-2022, the two French clubs remained undefeated against those of La Liga in the group stage. Monaco had a draw and a victory against Real Sociedad, while Losc did the same against Sevilla.
Monaco “shocked a lot of people” by beating Barça
This season, it is the names of the defeated opponents that are striking. “We saw a very impressive Losc team against the Madrid teams. Monaco's performance against Barcelona shocked a lot of people, because we are seeing a great Barça team this season, so it was a big surprise,” observes Ben Fernandes Santos, who attributes the Spanish defeats to a “lack of concentration”.
Enough to change the perception of Ligue 1 in Spain? “No, frankly, the feeling is still the same,” calms the Okdiario journalist immediately. But some supporters do not agree.
PSG can go for 4/4
“There, there is clearly a lot more respect than before,” said Walter, an Atléti supporter. “But what we have to do is not respect, it’s play our football,” he continues, awaiting the PSG-Atlético clash. “Currently, French football is in very good shape. It will take a lot from us to win,” adds Joselu, a member of the Colchoneros.
This Wednesday, Atlético de Madrid will therefore try to reverse the trend of the season against Paris Saint-Germain. Before this new European evening, the four French clubs are virtually qualified for the rest of the competition. Not bad for the Farmers League, right?
