2014, the French conquest

The accession of a Swedish giant to the top of his profession, a valiant team on every front on a quest to win every domestic trophy. Today, we will dive into the 2013-14 season…

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The match

Matchday 10 of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain host Sporting Club de Bastia at the Parc des Princes on 9 October 2013.

Captain for the day in the absence of Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a busy match and scored an incredible goal. After Lucas' cross was flicked on by Ongenda, Ibra finished the ball with an impressive back-heeled effort to beat Mickaël Landreau in the 10th minute. Three minutes later, he doubled his side's lead with a powerful header as he connected with Lucas' free-kick. Paris were on their way.

Cavani, who had arrived over the summer, also scored one of the best goals of the season in the 62nd minute. The Uruguay international beat the whole of the Bastia defence and the goalkeeper and finished with a side-footed effort from a seemingly impossible angle. He brought Les Rouge et Bleu's victory to a close from the penalty spot in the closing stages of the match. After Matchday 10 and this spectacular win over Bastia, the club from the capital took 1st place in the league and never lost it!

The player

Beyond reproach both on and off of the pitch, Maxwell had a busy season in the capital (24 matches, 3 goals and 2 assists).

The Brazilian full-back also scored two goals against Olympique de Marseille during this season, one at the Stade Vélodrome and the other at the Parc des Princes. Two symbolic yet vitally important goals for the man who remains a symbol of professionalism in the City of Light.

The goal

PSG-Bastia 4-0 Zlatan's back-heeled goal after a cross from Ongenda, 9 October 2013

The number

As the title holders, Paris Saint-Germain took part in the Trophée des Champions at the Stade de l'Amitié in Libreville in Gabon, against Girondins de Bordeaux. A 2-1 victory for Les Rouge et Bleu saw them lift their first trophy of the season, before taking home the Coupe de la Ligue against Lyon, thanks to a brace from Edinson Cavani in the final. Paris were also crowned Ligue 1 champions at the end of the season, making it the first treble in French football. The start of even more impressive performances for the club from the capital, with several quadruples now to their name.

The move

Lucas' lightning run against Marseille at the Parc des Princes, 2 March 2014.

L'anecdote

Against Reims on 5 April 2014, Paris Saint-Germain got a helping hand from... Aïssa Mandi. The Reims right-back scored a brace… of own goals!

Cavani had opened the scoring after an assist from Van der Wiel in the 32nd minute. Mandi was then unlucky enough to turn Lucas' header into his own net just before the break, and then repeated the feat again in the 89th minute. An historic brace, given that he is the only player to date to have scored two own goals against Paris Saint-Germain!

The quote

Lucas Moura (on Rod Fanni's clearance) :

«  I often think about it. After that match, I didn't sleep for a week, I was replaying that move in my head. But hey, that's part of the game. Other opportunities like this will present themselves to me because I have a style of play that lends itself to that. That doesn't stop my frustration though! What was he doing at that moment in time, why wasn't he elsewhere? No seriously, I know he was only doing his hob. He followed the ball well, never gave up and it went his way. It was well defended. »