Le Classique (women)

Le Classique (French pronunciation: [lə klasik], The Classic), also referred to as Le Classico, is a French football rivalry contested between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and OL Lyonnes (Lyon), the two most successful clubs in French women's football. First played in 1994, the fixture has grown in prominence to become one of the marquee matchups in the Première Ligue, France's top women's league. Over the years, the rivalry has featured closely contested league games, cup finals, and European encounters, drawing increased attention as both clubs have competed for national and continental honours.

By the end of the 2000s, Lyon had established overwhelming dominance in French and European women's football. PSG gradually emerged as a credible challenger in the 2010s following its acquisition by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2012. From the mid-2010s onward, the two sides regularly finished in the top two positions of the Première Ligue and faced each other repeatedly in the Coupe de France Féminine and the UEFA Women's Champions League. Although Lyon largely maintained the upper hand, PSG recorded notable milestones, including their first league victory over Lyon in 2014 and a landmark European success in 2015. Intense competition for elite players in the transfer market has further heightened tensions between two of the best-resourced clubs in women's football.

Public interest in the fixture grew steadily, leading it to be widely known as the women's Le Classique or Le Classico. A key turning point occurred in 2018, when PSG won their first trophy against Lyon by lifting the Coupe de France, symbolizing a narrowing of the competitive gap despite Lyon's continued domestic and European dominance. The rivalry intensified through a series of high-profile encounters in the 2020s, notably PSG ending Lyon's 80-match unbeaten league run and securing their first Première Ligue title in 2021. Lyon, however, retained the upper hand in decisive Champions League knockout ties and domestic finals between 2022 and 2025.

The women's rivalry mirrors the prominence of the men's Le Classique, contested between Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille (OM), which is regarded as the biggest fixture in French men's football. PSG and OM are the two most successful clubs in France and widely supported clubs in France. The rivalry emerged in the 1980s following PSG's first league title and OM's ascent under Bernard Tapie, as sustained competition for titles and a series of off-field controversies intensified tensions. Media involvement and increased financial backing in the 1990s further amplified the antagonism, which has endured despite fluctuating periods of sporting success for both clubs.