For the last decade or so, all French attention on the continental stage has been given to heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisians have claimed the Ligue 1 crown in all but three seasons since their Qatari owners took over the club back in 2011, and they have emerged as one of the biggest forces in Europe. However, over the last 13 years, the capital city outfit hasn’t truly shone in the Champions League, reaching the final once and the semifinals a further two times, with a bucketload of embarrassing exits sprinkled in between.
This season, not much looks to have changed. PSG aren’t considered a favourite for the title, with the latest Champions League odds making them a +2000 outsider for glory. But while they may have stuttered in European competition, France has often been propped up by the performance of its underdogs. Over the years, several underdogs have made deep runs in the competition, and Brest is aiming to follow in their footsteps.
After a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last term, Les Pirates secured qualification to the tournament for the first time in their history, and they have hit the ground running. They managed to defeat Austrian side Sturm Graz in their competition debut before an away win against Swiss giants Salzburg in their second game gave them a perfect start to life with the elite. Those early showings have led supporters to dream of a deep Champions League run, following in the footsteps of these two sides that recently went on to reach the semifinals.
Monaco’s Magical Run in 2017
AS Monaco is no stranger to impressing in the Champions League, but they have been considered perennial underdogs every time. Back in 2004, Fernando Morientes and Ludovic Giuly led them to their first-ever final, where they would ultimately come unstuck against Jose Mourinho’s Porto. Just over a decade later, they went on a stellar run to the quarterfinals.
But it was their fairytale run in 2017 that truly captured the imagination. Following the return of captain and talisman Radamel Falcao from his loan stints with Manchester United and Chelsea and his subsequent pairing with teenage sensation Kylian Mbappé, the Monegasque outfit was about to take Europe by storm. Under the guidance of the manager of Leonardo Jardim, Monaco managed to perfectly combine youthful exuberance with experienced leadership, resulting in several dazzling displays.
Central to Monaco’s success was the emergence of the aforementioned Mbappé. We all know just how far the mercurial Frenchman has gone in the seven years since his breakout year, but back in 2016/17, he was an unknown commodity. His electric pace, technical skills, and eye for goals made him a nightmare for defenders. The current Les Bleus captain was uncharacteristically quiet in the group stage, but he came alive once the knockout rounds got underway.
Mbappé announced himself on the European stage with breathtaking performances against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Round of 16. He tore defenders John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi apart, scoring goals both home and away to help his side progress against all odds. He was then on fire once again in the quarterfinals against Borussia Dortmund, scoring three goals across the two legs to send his side to the semifinals.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Monaco. They were soundly beaten in the semifinals by Juventus, but not before they had gripped the continent with their riveting displays.
Lyon’s Tactical Triumph in 2020
Three years later, Olympique Lyonnais embarked on their unexpected journey to the semifinals of the 2019/20 Champions League. Through the 2000s, the club was the dominant force in French football, winning Ligue 1 seven times in a row between 2002 and 2009. In 2010, the goals of Argentinian striker Lisandro Lopez fired them to the Champions League semi-finals, picking up victories against Liverpool and Real Madrid along the way.
While that achievement was impressive, it was nothing to compare to their exploits in 2020. A decade on from their only prior trip to the final four, Lyon rolled back their years to the glory days, defying their perceived lowly squad to make the semifinals once again. Manager Rudi Garcia recognized his side wasn’t one of the strongest in the tournament and adopted a pragmatic approach that saw them defy the odds.
They initially squeezed their way through to the last 16 after finishing as runners-up in Group G to RB Leipzig. That set up a difficult test against Italian champions Juventus. The Bianconeri were powered by Cristiano Ronaldo, but that wouldn’t stop Lyon from springing the upset. A disciplined 1-0 home victory, followed by a gutsy 2-1 defeat in Turin, saw them advance on away goals. But their greatest triumph was still yet to come.
Manchester City were the favourites to win the tournament, with Pep Guardiola turning the Blues into perhaps the most feared side in Europe. However, with global events forcing the quarterfinals and semifinals to be one-legged affairs, the French outfit knew that there was an opportunity, and boy would they take it.
The iconic Spanish manager made some questionable tactical decisions, and Rudi Garcia took full advantage. A late brace from former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele sealed a famous 3-1 win for Lyon, securing their spot in the semifinals, much to the amazement of everybody. That was as far as they would go as Lyon bowed out to the eventual champions Bayern Munich, who claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory.
