Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain meet in the Champions League this week, their sixth game in just over five years.
They are two of the most-successful and richest clubs in world football right now, and have won three of the past four Champions League trophies between them. Man City won the crown for the first time in 2022/23, while PSG have won the past two.
But their success is often looked at with an asterisk, particularly due to the money spent and the swift rise. It wasn’t that long ago that these two sides met in the Uefa Cup group stage. Both sides advanced out of the five-team group, in a round-robin format.
The two sides played out a goalless draw at the then-named City of Manchester Stadium, with some throwback names in both starting lineups. Let’s take a look.
Manchester City
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
- Man City appearances: 348
- Career path since: Birmingham (loan) > Torino (loan) > West Ham (loan) > Burnley > Tottenham > Celtic
Joe Hart spent the first half of the 2008/09 season as Man City’s first-choice goalkeeper, including for their Uefa Cup run. But he was replaced in the winter transfer window by Shay Given as the club chased experience. It led to Hart being sent on loan to Birmingham City the following season, before returning to claim the Man City crown.
Hart stayed at Man City until 2018, going on to make just under 350 appearances for the club. In that time he won two Premier League titles, two EFL Cups and the FA Cup — as well as becoming England‘s No.1. Hart initially departed with loans to Torino and West Ham United before joining Burnley permanently. The Englishman spent a year with the Clarets before returning to London with Tottenham Hotspur. Hart ended his career with a three-year stay at Celtic, winning three league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.
Right-back: Pablo Zabaleta
- Man City appearances: 333
- Career path since: West Ham
This was Pablo Zabaleta’s first season at Man City and he’d leave nine years later a club legend. The Argentine made the right-back spot his own for many years, forming part of the defence that won two league titles. He played 35 games in the 2013/14 campaign as Man City pipped Liverpool to the title.
Injuries started to hamper Zabaleta later in his Man City career and the club had to look elsewhere for solidity at right-back. He eventually left in 2017, staying in the Premier League with West Ham. In his first season at the club, Zabaleta played 37 of 38 games, with his only absence due to suspension. Zabaleta retired in 2020.
Centre-back: Richard Dunne
- Man City appearances: 352
- Career path since: Aston Villa > QPR
Richard Dunne was Man City captain for three years, replacing Sylvain Distin in 2006. But this would be his final campaign at Man City, leaving in the summer of 2009 as the club bolstered their defensive ranks. The Irishman still played 47 times for Man City across all competitions in his final campaign, missing nine games with five of those for suspension.
Having been replaced at Man City, Dunne joined Aston Villa in 2009 and spent four years with the Villans. However, his final campaign at Villa Park was hampered by injury and he left in 2013 having not played for a year. Championship side Queens Park Rangers was the destination and Dunne played 44 games to help the club gain promotion to the Premier League. After one season back in the top flight, Dunne retired in 2015.
Centre-back: Tal Ben Haim
- Man City appearances: 15
- Career path since: Sunderland (loan) > Portsmouth > West Ham (loan) > QPR > Toronto (loan) > Standard Liege > Charlton > Maccabi Tel Aviv > Beitar Jerusalem
This might be a selection that sums up where Man City were at in 2008. Tal Ben Haim was a good defender for Bolton Wanderers, but struggling at the bigger clubs after moving to Chelsea. He joined Man City in the summer of 2008 and was sent on loan by the winter transfer window. Ben Haim left Man City permanently in 2009, with just 15 appearances.
Ben Haim represented a few clubs across the remainder of his career, including Portsmouth, West Ham, QPR and Charlton Athletic. He also had a spell in MLS with Toronto FC and spent a year in Belgium at Standard Liege. Ben Haim retired in 2021 having spent the final six years of his career playing in his native Israel.
Left-back: Javier Garrido
- Man City appearances: 63
- Career path since: Lazio > Norwich (loan) > Norwich > Las Palmas > AEK Larnaca > Real Union
Javier Garrido spent three years at Man City and was largely their first-choice left-back for the first 18 months of his time. That included six starts in the 2008/09 Uefa Cup. But he eventually lost his place to Wayne Bridge, and had to make do with a substitute role. Garrido eventually fell into relative obscurity at Man City before leaving in 2010.
He joined Italian side Lazio and spent two years there, before making a return to England. An initial loan move to Norwich City was made permanent and Garrido was their first-choice left-back in 2012/13. But, again, he fell out of favour and was eventually sold to Las Palmas. After a brief spell with AEK Larnaca, Garrido returned to Spain once more to play for Real Union, before retiring in 2020.
Central midfielder: Elano
- Man City appearances: 80
- Career path since: Galatasaray > Santos > Gremio > Flamengo (loan) > Chennaiyin FC > Santos > Chennaiyin FC (loan)
When you think of the Man City side of this era, it will be hard to picture anyone other than Elano. He only spent two years at the club, and this would be his final season, but the Brazilian made himself at home in Manchester. The Brazilian played 80 times for Man City across his two seasons and scored 18 goals in all competitions. That includes two in the 2008/09 Uefa Cup. But his playing time had suffered slightly in 2008/09, with Man City on the verge of their revolution.
Elano left Man City for Galatasaray and spent two years in Turkey before returning to his native Brazil. There, the midfielder played for a handful of clubs including Santos, Gremio and Flamengo. But Elano also spent some time in India, both as a permanent signing and loan arrival at Chennaiyin FC. Elano retired in 2017 after two more years with Santos.
Central midfielder: Vincent Kompany
- Man City appearances: 360
- Career path since: Anderlecht
Yes. Legendary Man City centre-back and captain Vincent Kompany started out as a midfielder. And he was a regular there in his debut campaign, after joining from Hamburg in the summer of 2008. It wasn’t until midway through the 2009/10 season that Kompany started to play at centre-back for Man City, replacing Nedum Onuoha. The rest, as they say, is history.
Kompany spent 11 years in total with Man City, playing over 350 games. It would have been a lot more had he not suffered from chronic injury issues. But he was still able to lead the club to four league titles, four EFL Cups and two FA Cups. Kompany returned to boyhood club Anderlecht for the final season of his career, retiring in 2020 and turning to management.
Central midfielder: Stephen Ireland
- Man City appearances: 175
- Career path since: Aston Villa > Newcastle (loan) > Stoke (loan) > Stoke > Bolton
Stephen Ireland was a Man City academy graduate, and was at the club before the money came in. He was regular for the Citizens and played 175 times for the club as a fine servant. The Irishman was still used in the 2009/10 season playing around the likes of Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry. But he eventually lost his place in the midfield and joined Aston Villa in 2010.
But Ireland didn’t hit the ground running at Villa Park and spent the second half of his first season on loan at Newcastle United. He did eventually return but still only played 58 times for the Villans across a three-and-a-half year stay. That spell was ended in 2014 when Ireland made a loan move to Stoke City permanent. He spent four years with the Potters, playing 70 times albeit without being a regular. Ireland’s career was hampered by a broken leg and he eventually retired in 2018 after a short spell at Bolton, bringing no appearances.
Right-winger: Daniel Sturridge
- Man City appearances: 32
- Career path since: Chelsea > Bolton (loan) > Liverpool > West Brom (loan) > Trabzonspor > Perth Glory
Daniel Sturridge was another player experiencing his final season at Man City, after coming through the club’s academy. The Englishman wasn’t used much by the Manchester club, with more minutes in the Uefa Cup (including qualifying) than in the Premier League in 2008/09. Sturridge joined Chelsea at the end of his contract, with a tribunal-set compensation.
Despite racking up almost 100 appearances for Chelsea, and winning the Premier League and Champions League, Sturridge never really settled. He did shine while on loan at Bolton Wanderers, before becoming a regular feature of Chelsea’s squad. Sturridge left Chelsea in 2013, joining Liverpool, forming part of their exciting SAS attack alongside Luis Suarez. He scored 22 goals in the 2013/14 season as Liverpool just missed out on the trophy. In total, Sturridge spent six years on Merseyside, playing 160 times and picking up another Champions League winners’ medal. He retired in 2024 after brief spells in Turkey and Australia.
Striker: Jo
- Man City appearances: 42
- Career path since: Everton (loan) > Galatasaray (loan) > Internacional > Atletico Mineiro > Al-Shabab > JS Suning > Corinthians > Nagoya Grampus > Corinthians > Ceara SC > Al-Jabalain > Amazonas > Itabirito
Another cult classic of this Man City side, Jo managed 42 appearances for the club across a three-year stay, despite spending time on loan at Everton and Galatasaray. In that time, the Brazilian scored just six goals, so it’s easy to see why he wasn’t trusted long-term. In fact, the loan move to Everton came just a few months after this game and lasted a year, with Jo scoring seven goals in 36 games for the Toffees.
Jo left Man City permanently in 2011, returning to Brazil with Internacional. That started a world tour for Jo, with six different Brazilian clubs — including boyhood team Corinthians — a spell in the UAE, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Jo only retired in 2025, at the age of 38.
Left-winger: Darius Vassell
- Man City appearances: 124
- Career path since: Ankaragucu > Leicester
Darius Vassell was nearing the end of his career, though he did still have a few years left in him. This was, however, his final season at Man City having first joined the club in 2005. During his four years, Vassell played 124 times across all competitions and scored 22 goals, often being pushed out wide for another striker.
After leaving Man City, Vassell moved to Turkish side Ankaragucu, scoring four goals in 25 games. He returned to England a year later, joining Leicester City. After scoring six goals in 45 matches, Vassell retired in 2012.
PSG
Goalkeeper: Mickael Landreau
- PSG appearances: 151
- Career path since: Lille > Bastia
PSG were still a couple of years from their takeover, but there were still a few spells ending after the 2008/09 season. One of the players to leave was Mickael Landreau, who had spent three years with PSG after joining from Nantes. The Frenchman was PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper throughout his time at the club, barely giving anyone a chance to usurp him.
But he was eventually replaced by Gregory Coupet, leaving in the summer of 2009 for Lille. Once again Landreau became a first-choice goalkeeper and was part of the Lille side to win Ligue 1 in 2010/11 — his second title after also lifting it with Nantes in 2000/01. After three years with Lille, Landreau enjoyed a two-year stay with Bastia, before eventually retiring in 2014.
Right-back: Zoumana Camara
- PSG appearances: 224
- Career path since: Retired
PSG were Zoumana Camara’s final club, and he didn’t leave until 2015, well into the new era. First joining in 2007, Camara played 224 times for PSG across all competitions, though he was very much a rotational option once the cash started to be splashed. Still, the Frenchman picked up three Ligue 1 winner’s medals in three consecutive seasons, retiring after the third.
Centre-back: Sammy Traore
- PSG appearances: 96
- Career path since: Retired
Another player to retire after PSG, Sammy Traore never really had a long spell of games as a first-choice centre-back for the club. There were shorter bursts, but the former Mali international didn’t nail down his place. Still, he made 10 appearances in the 2008/09 Uefa Cup and did go on to play 23 times in the league the following season. But Traore only made six appearances in his final campaign with PSG, before retiring in 2011.
Centre-back: Gregory Bourillon
- PSG appearances: 55
- Career path since: Lorient > Stade Reims > Angers > LB Chateauroux
Although this wasn’t Gregory Bourillon’s final season at PSG, he did leave midway through the following campaign. The Frenchman initially joined PSG from Rennes in 2007 and looked to have hit the ground running. But a period out of the team followed, and Bourillon didn’t get much chance at centre-back. He did have a spell in midfield towards the end of the 2007/08 campaign, before reinforcements were made there.
Bourillon left PSG in 2010 to join FC Lorient, where he found his feet again. The centre-back played 128 times for the club, before spells with Stade Reims and Angers. Bourillon returned to France in 2019, after two years with LB Chateauroux.
Left-back: Mamadou Sakho
- PSG appearances: 201
- Career path since: Liverpool > Crystal Palace (loan) > Crystal Palace > Montpellier > Torpedo Kutaisi
Mamadou Sakho came through the academy at PSG and was a success story, keeping his spot in their team even after the money came in. The Frenchman racked up 201 appearances for the club altogether, eventually becoming part of their first-choice defence in 2009/10. But, Sakho did leave without winning the league title with PSG, joining Liverpool in 2013.
Sakho could have had a league title in his first campaign with Liverpool, joining Sturridge in the nearly-men of 2013/14. He spent four years in total at Liverpool, playing 80 times before eventually falling out of favour. After a loan spell at Crystal Palace, Sakho eventually made the permanent move to Selhurst Park, spending four years with the Eagles. Sakho returned to France with Montpellier in 2021 and eventually retired after a short spell in Georgia.
Right-midfielder: Fabrice Pancrate
- PSG appearances: 132
- Career path since: Newcastle > AE Larisa > Nantes
Fabrice Pancrate spent five years at PSG and played 132 times across all competitions, but he was on his way out of the club. This was to be his final season and the surprise run of appearances came despite Pancrate having spent the 2007/08 season on loan. Pancrate played 39 times across all competitions in 2008/09, but the majority of his starts came in the Uefa Cup.
The Frenchman eventually joined Newcastle after leaving PSG but only made 19 appearances for the club, who were in the Championship at the time. After a short spell with Greek club AE Larisa, Pancrate returned to France with Nantes. There, he enjoyed 68 appearances in three years before retiring in 2014.
Central midfielder: Jeremy Clement
- PSG appearances: 192
- Career path since: Saint-Etienne > Nancy > Bourgoin-Jallieu
Jeremy Clement was a regular for PSG during his four-year stay after joining from Rangers in 2007. He played almost 200 games for the club and was a key man in their midfield until his departure. On top of his 10 Uefa Cup appearances in 2008/09, Clement played 35 times in the league that season helping PSG push up the table.
Clement left PSG in 2011, staying in France with Saint-Etienne. There, Clement became part of the furniture, playing 192 times in six years, before eventually joining Nancy. With his career winding down, Clement had a brief spell with Bourgoin-Jallieu before retiring in 2020.
Central midfielder: Claude Makelele
- PSG appearances: 118
- Career path since: Retired
This was Claude Makelele’s first season with PSG after joining from Chelsea. The legendary midfielder was winding down his career but still had three seasons left in him before retiring in 2011. He was the perfect bridge between the old and new era at PSG, and still had the legs in him. Makelele played 118 times for PSG across all competitions, with 40 coming in this maiden campaign.
Left-midfielder: Jerome Rothen
- PSG appearances: 180
- Career path since: Rangers (loan) > Ankaragucu (loan) > Bastia > Caen
While this wasn’t Jerome Rothen’s final season with PSG, he was on his way out. The Frenchman joined from Monaco in 2004 after helping the club reach the Champions League final. He had to bide his time before becoming a first-choice at PSG but that did come. Rothen’s PSG career peaked in the 2008/09 campaign as he played 49 times across all competitions, including 10 appearances in the Uefa Cup.
But he spent the following season on loan, first with Rangers and then Ankaragucu. Upon his return, Rothen left PSG permanently, after six years and 180 appearances. He joined SC Bastia, where he remained for two years, before rejoining boyhood club SM Caen.
Striker: Peguy Luyindula
- PSG appearances: 180
- Career path since: New York Red Bulls
Peguy Luyindula made the controversial move from Marseille to PSG in February 2007, and was key for the club as they avoided relegation. He did the hard work the following season too, again as PSG just escaped the drop. Luyindula was a regular in 2008/09, playing the supporting role in the attack with 13 goals across all competitions, including six in the Uefa Cup.
The Frenchman’s playing time did start to dwindle in the following years, and he left for New York Red Bulls in 2013. He was part of the team to win the Supporters’ Shield and retired in 2015.
Striker: Mateja Kezman
- PSG appearances: 53
- Career path since: South China > BATE > South China
Mateja Kezman was coming towards the end of his world tour when he joined PSG on loan from Fenerbahce. The Serbian had struggled to rebuild his reputation following a poor spell at Chelsea, even though it only lasted one season. Kezman scored eight goals in his 35 games across all competitions while on loan with PSG, with three coming in the Uefa Cup.
Kezman made the move permanent the following season but only managed two goals in 15 appearances, falling out of favour before his contract was mutually terminated. The Serbian then moved to Hong Kong to play for South China, where he enjoyed a brief stay. Kezman retired in 2012, after a short spell with BATE Borisov and another stint with South China.
