The inevitable has officially arrived. Paris Saint-Germain, already all but certain of the title, definitively claimed the French championship crown on Wednesday evening. A 2-0 triumph at Lens, a team already assured of a spot in the upcoming Champions League, sealed their historic achievement. Goals from Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia in the 29th minute and Ibrahim Mbaye in the 93rd minute secured the crucial points.
Luis Enrique’s squad endured a challenging encounter, relying heavily on the impenetrable Matveï Safonov, who delivered a series of critical saves. This victory underscores Paris Saint-Germain’s undisputed dominance in French football, marking their fifth consecutive title and a record 14th in the club’s illustrious history.
Trailing at halftime, the Lens players could only lament their missed opportunities. Pierre Sage’s side had crafted numerous chances throughout the first half but failed to convert any into goals. With 14 attempts, six of which were on target, frustration was palpable as Wesley Saïd (20th, 36th, 45th + 3), Adrien Thomasson (20th, 33rd), Odsonne Édouard (24th), and Abdallah Sima (38th, 39th, 41st) all tested the Parisian defense without success.
a single lens error proves costly for parisians
The Parisians, in contrast, capitalized on a solitary defensive miscue to punish their hosts. After intercepting a one-touch pass from Malang Sarr, Ousmane Dembélé, relentless in his pressing, threaded a perfect through-ball to Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia. The forward unleashed a precise cross-shot that beat Robin Risser in the 29th minute. Paris nearly extended their lead when Bradley Barcola recovered the ball near the Lens penalty area, setting up Dembélé for another cross-shot, which Risser brilliantly parried away in the 43rd minute.
At halftime, coach Sage articulated a dual sentiment, stating, “We are pleased with our performance but frustrated by the outcome. We’re playing well, but we need to convert our chances into goals.” His words, however, did not immediately translate into action for his players. Shortly after the restart, Lens created another golden opportunity, but Sima’s one-on-one effort was thwarted by Matveï Safonov in the 46th minute.
Sima continued to press, holding off Lucas Hernandez, but his subsequent shot was once again repelled by Safonov’s chest in the 54th minute. After a dangerous PSG attack led by Dembélé (57th), Lens renewed their assault on the Parisian goal. Illia Zabarnyi deflected two shots from Saint-Maximin (72nd, 73rd), and the post came to Safonov’s rescue on another Sima attempt that had beaten him in the 74th minute.
The Russian goalkeeper remained resolute, making another crucial foot save on a Sangaré volley following a cross from Udol in the 80th minute. With clinical precision, the Parisians punished Lens a second time on a counter-attack. Doué’s cross found Mbaye, who struck a superb one-touch shot that crashed off the crossbar and into the net in the 93rd minute. Thauvin took a final shot, but his off-target effort perfectly encapsulated his team’s lack of finishing luck on the night.
As Paris Saint-Germain prepares to conclude its championship season against Paris FC, Lens, who have been magnificent runners-up, will face Lyon next Sunday to cap off what has been an otherwise fabulous Ligue 1 campaign. Both teams will then have further opportunities for silverware: Lens will compete for the Coupe de France, while PSG will pursue the coveted Champions League title.
the player: safonov was simply unbeatable
After being rested against Brest, Matveï Safonov returned to the starting lineup for Paris Saint-Germain’s crucial match at Lens. The Russian shot-stopper once again demonstrated why he is the undisputed number one in PSG’s goal. Despite Lens unleashing 25 shots, with 10 on target, Safonov remained unyielding, making eight crucial saves to frustrate the opposition attackers.
Among Paris Saint-Germain goalkeepers in the QSI era, only Gianluigi Donnarumma (10 saves against Marseille on March 31, 2024) and Keylor Navas (9 saves against Rennes on May 9, 2021) have recorded more saves in a single Ligue 1 match. Even when beaten, Safonov had the post to thank for a crucial intervention in the 74th minute. “We ran into a truly great goalkeeper tonight,” conceded Lens player Mamadou Sangaré after the match, undoubtedly disheartened by his opponent’s performance.
