Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s goal helped Paris Saint-Germain seal a 2-0 victory away against closest challengers Lens yesterday and their fifth successive French Ligue 1 crown.
The Georgian notched his 19th goal of the season shortly before the half-hour mark and substitute Ibrahim Mbaye added a late second to put PSG an unassailable nine points clear at the top with one match of the season left, AFP reported.
Luis Enrique’s side had all but sealed another league title last weekend when they defeated Brest 1-0 to move six points clear of Lens with two games remaining while also having a far better goal differential.
Even a Lens win here could not conceivably have stopped the Parisians from extending their domestic domination.
PSG have now won a record 14 French titles in total with 12 of them in the last 14 years when they have been changed under Qatari ownership.
Their collection of trophies this season also includes the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Intercontinental Cup and French Champions Trophy, with the league title added to the collection.
There could be more to come, with the defending European champions facing Arsenal in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30 – if they beat the Gunners they will become only the second team in the modern period to win back-to-back European Cups.
Lens are guaranteed a second-place finish and a place in next season’s Champions League league phase as they prepare to return to the competition for the first time since 2023/24.
On the northern side, Nice will also be found in the final of the French Cup on Friday 22 May.
Had this game been played in April on its original date, it could have been far more important. But it was delayed to allow PSG to have a breather between the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.
This finally dulled the edge of the tie, with the visitors arriving without key men such Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, captain Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Warren Zaire-Emery in their starting line-up.
However, PSG pressed on at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, where Ousmane Dembele intercepted a clearing by Malang Sarr and this week’s Ligue 1 player of the year winner released Kvaratskhelia to control and score.
Abdallah Sima hit the post for Lens on 74 minutes and Florian Thauvin had a goal disallowed for offside late on before Senegal international Mbaye made it 2-0 in stoppage time.
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