The first of two Paris derbies in the space of eight days gave Paris Saint-Germain a chance to make a statement against their upstart neighbours. The tifo display in the Parc des Princes – which read “Paris c’est nous” – could be read as both a nod to the clubs’ shared history and a reminder of the one-sided nature of the derby.

For a few years, they were the same club. Paris Saint-Germain are the result of a merger between Stade Saint-Germain and Paris FC in 1970, which the latter split from a few years later. PSG were soon winning trophies but Paris FC went through decades of obscurity before emerging as Ligue 2 regulars in the years before they were taken over by the Arnault family and Red Bull.

The rivalry is alive and well in the women’s top flight, where the two Parisian clubs are the only teams that regularly challenge OL Lyonnes, but the circumstances are different in Ligue 1. They had not played in 48 years so their rivalry needs to be built up almost from scratch.

From PSG’s perspective, it is difficult to drum up animosity for a club whose stated aim is to complement the European champions rather than challenge them directly. For the time being, there seems to be a deference on the part of Paris FC towards their neighbours. “They are on a different planet,” said Pierre Ferracci, the Paris FC president and former PSG season ticket holder, at the start of the season.

“There’s room for two clubs in Paris, for two stories that could be complementary,” said the Paris FC owner Antoine Arnault, himself an avowed PSG fan, in a press conference last year. Since 2022, Paris FC have also boasted PSG legend Raí as an ambassador; however the former Brazil international nevertheless remains a regular at the Parc des Princes. As the newly promoted club try to expand their fanbase, distancing and distinguishing themselves from their neighbours may become a necessity.

The match is still lacking in on-field storylines. Paris FC’s conservative approach to transfer business, despite their billionaire backing, means the balance of power is unlikely to change anytime soon. Although they occupy the same space – both geographically and in market terms – Paris FC pose little threat to their neighbours’ hegemony in the capital as things stand.

Paris FC’s move to the Stade Jean-Bouin over the summer, bringing them within metres of the Parc des Princes, hinted at being a potential source of friction. It also made for a considerable upgrade from the 19,000-seater Stade Charléty, also owned by the city authorities, which is hindered by an athletics track and little room for expansion.

Despite being at close quarters, relations between the two clubs have been cordial, not least among the decision-makers. Nasser Al-Khelaifi flew in to meet with Arnault and the Paris FC management before the match. Jürgen Klopp, representing the club’s minority investors Red Bull, was also in attendance.

The Paris c’est nous tifo could also be interpreted in the context of PSG’s protracted dispute with the city authorities over the proposed sale of the Parc des Princes. PSG have identified several sites in the outskirts of the city for a potential new stadium, although the vast majority of their fans are opposed to a move away from their home of 52 years.

The upcoming mayoral elections, in which several candidates have voiced their support for resuming talks with the club, could still change the situation. If PSG do leave the inner city, Paris FC would be the only major club left within the confines of the Boulevard Périphérique ring road and the probable new tenants of the Parc des Princes.

In any case, the first chapter of the revived Paris derby was a surprisingly close-run affair, with PSG winning 2-1. For the hosts, the main takeaway were the goals from Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé, both of whom are returning to form after struggling with injuries throughout the autumn. Stéphane Gilli’s men did equalise after half-time through a Willem Geubbels penalty, but they were unable to keep pace with PSG for long. The two teams will reconvene at the Parc des Princes next Monday for a Coupe de France tie.

At the halfway point of the season, the neighbours are at opposite ends of the table, with PSG narrowly trailing Lens in the title race and Paris FC only two points above the relegation playoff spot. Their fixture on the final day of the season at Jean-Bouin could have more than just bragging rights at stake.

Talking points

• Liam Rosenior’s time in Ligue 1 seemingly came to an end with a 1-1 draw in Nice, a result that extended Strasbourg’s winless run in the league to two months. Rosenior has struggled to make the most of the club’s significant investment in the summer, which overhauled a squad that was short on experience. The club’s next hire could be BlueCo’s last chance to salvage its credibility with fans and prove that Strasbourg are more than just a feeder club. As things stand, though, the Strasbourg supporters’ protests against multiclub ownership look increasingly vindicated. The team is seventh in the table, having lost as many games as they have won this season.

• With six defeats in seven league matches, Sébastien Pocognoli is already under pressure at Monaco. While CEO Thiago Scuro reiterated his support for the Belgian after Saturday’s defeat to Lyon, the fact remains that results have not improved since the sacking of Adi Hütter in October. Now on the brink of slipping into the bottom half and facing an injury crisis, Monaco face an arduous January, not least with Champions League matches against Real Madrid and Juventus to come.

This is an article by Get French Football News