Parisian football is about to experience a moment steeped in history. This weekend, the Parc des Princes will be the scene of a long-forgotten derby: Paris Saint-Germain will face Paris FC again, more than half a century after their last official encounter.

This unique match pits two clubs born from the same source against each other. In the early 1970s, Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain merged at the behest of the French Football Federation to create a major club for the capital. From this union emerged Paris Saint-Germain. But the honeymoon was short-lived. Between political pressures, financial strain, and structural disagreements, the separation was finalized in 1972. Paris FC retained the Parc des Princes stadium and its professional status, while PSG started anew in Division 3.

Since then, the two clubs' trajectories have followed radically different paths. PSG rose to the pinnacle of French and European football, while Paris FC long operated in the shadows before gradually re-establishing itself in the professional landscape. More than fifty years after their separation, the two entities cross paths again, this time in a completely different context.

This derby also has an almost surreal geographical feature. Paris FC, home of the Stade Jean-Bouin, will only have a few meters to travel to reach the Parc des Princes. A symbolic journey, among the shortest in the history of professional football, which reinforces the unusual nature of this match.

However, the players are trying to temper the excitement. "It's a derby because we're neighbors, that's for sure. But in football terms, it's not a clash comparable to a Milan-Inter," said Ilan Kebbal, midfielder for Paris FC.

The event, however, transcends French borders. Several foreign media outlets have taken an interest in this return of a Parisian derby that disappeared in 1978, a sign of the curiosity aroused by this unprecedented confrontation in the modern era.

Finally, it should be noted that this match will be played with numerous absentees, as the Africa Cup of Nations has deprived both teams of several players. For PSG, Ibrahim Mbaye is unavailable, while Paris FC will have to do without Moïses Simon (Nigeria), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Ivory Coast), Ilan Kebbal and Hamari Traoré (Mali), all of whom are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

A derby unlike any other, where history, symbolism and geographical proximity take up almost as much space as the sporting stakes.