Paris celebrates 51st Ligue 1 anniversary
History•
It's 51 years since the Club's first Ligue 1 match against Sochaux, and Paris Saint-Germain has not left the top flight since.
Michel Kollarmichelkollar
It was Friday, 2 August, 1974, when the Parisians headed to Montbeliard without midfielder Albert Poli, who had a groin injury, and Mustapha Dahleb, who was ineligible as the club waited on François M’Pelé's naturalisation papers. The game had actually been scheduled to be played at the Parc des Princes, but the pitch was being re-laid.
Dogliani sent a shot wide (5') and he and André (30' & 31') both had efforts on goal, but the deadlock could not be broken in the first half. The visitors pushed in the closing stages, and after Dogliani (76') and Bauda (77') had been unable to take good chances, Christian André was able to smash home the only goal of the game (79').
Goalkeeper Ilija Pantelic was crucial to the victory, making big saves from Lechantre (17') and Klijnjan (56'). Justo Fontaine, the Parisian coach, was delighted: "We respect everyone, but fear no one. Whatever the result, we will be happy if we keep putting on a show and pleasing our fans."
Things were not so smooth post-match. Sochaux filed an appeal, arguing that Jean-Pierre Dogliani should have been suspended, but had actually been given special dispensation to play by French President Valery Giscard D’Estaing, who had been elected that summer. It meant the two points for the win were only added to Paris' total on 2 April 1975 after all of Sochaux's appeal's had been heard and a definitive decision by the State Council had been made.
Since, Paris has never been relegated, making them the club with the longest current streak in Ligue 1.
FC SOCHAUX-MONTBELIARD - PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN : 0-1 (0-0)
2 August 1974
Referee: Mr. Meeus.
c. 7 000 fans
Goal: André (79').
SOCHAUX: Battmann - Dufour, Seles, Wasmer, Posca - Piasecki, Guttierez, Klijnjan - Soler (Maier, 77'), Garnier, Lechantre. Coach: Barret.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Pantelic - Bauda, Novi, Renaut, Cardiet - Laposte, Deloffre, Dogliani - Floch, M’Pelé, André. Coach: Fontaine/Vicot.