Sammy Traore and Kevin McHugh challenge for possession

Killian Brennan hit the PSG woodwork early on as Derry made a bright start.

However, PSG produced intense pressure before the break and Brennan and Darren Kelly both cleared off the line to deny Fabrice Pancrate and Albert Baning.

Kevin McHugh had a penalty claim turned down for Derry after half-time as the home side held on for a memorable draw.

Interview: Derry City manager Stephen Kenny

Only 3,000 spectators were able to pack into the Brandywell but the home fans generated a carnival atmosphere with the 400 or so visiting supporters also helping to ensure a colourful occasion.

Derry, who started without captain Peter Hutton and Gary Beckett, looked lively early on and Brennan went close with a long-range effort in the seventh minute.

Match photos: Derry City v PSG

Brennan went even closer in the 15th minute when his curling left-foot shot clipped the PSG crossbar with goalkeeper Miuckael Landreau beaten.

However, after their nervous opening the French side began to look dangerous midway through the first half.

Czech international David Rozehnal tested David Forde with a 26th minute header and three minutes later Brennan had to make a last-ditch clearance to prevent a Fabrice Pancrete effort from putting PSG into the lead.

Derry's Barry Molloy challenges PSG's Albert Baning

As PSG continued to dominate, David Hellebuyck had Forde scrambling back to push away a long-range effort in the 33rd minute and Darren Kelly then did brilliantly to clear Albert Baning's shot off the line.

At that stage the gulf in class between the teams was apparent and Derry boss Stephen Kenny must have been glad to hear the half-time whistle with the game still scoreless.

Derry tried to rally after the break and Kevin McHugh had a strong penalty claim turned down by Slovakian referee Richard Havrilla in the 54th minute when he appeared to be felled in the box by Sylvain Armand.

Home boss Stephen Kenny introduced Gary Beckett for the Pat McCourt in the 59th minute and PSG manager Guy Lacombe used his main bench option in the 71st minute when Portugal star Pauleta came on.

Derry suffered a nervous moment four minutes from time when Ken Oman allowed an innocuous ball to slip under his boot but keeper Forde reacted quickly to clear to safety.

Despite more late PSG pressure, Derry held on for a draw that they just about deserved.

Indeed, Stephen Kenny's side can still hope for an upset at the Parc des Princes on 28 September as they try to become the first Irish club ever to make it through to the group stages of a European competition.

Derry City: Forde, McCallion, Hargan, Martyn, McHugh, Brennan (Farren 78), Oman, Deery, Molloy, McCourt (Beckett 57), Kelly.
Subs Not Used: Hutton, Higgins, McGlynn, Jennings, O'Flynn.

Booked: McHugh.

PSG: Landreau, Paulo Cesar, Armand, Drame, Baning (Chantome 85), Diane (Pauleta 72), Frau, Hellebuyck, Pancrate (Kalou 78), Rozehnal, Traore.
Subs Not Used: Alonzo, Mabiala, Rodriguez, Yepes.

Att: 3,000.

Ref: Richard Havrilla (Slovakia).