PSG secured their fifth straight French Ligue 1 title on Wednesday as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s strike set up a decisive 2-0 win away to nearest rivals Lens.
The Georgian scored his 19th goal of the season shortly before the half-hour mark, and substitute Ibrahim Mbaye added a late second to give PSG an unassailable nine-point advantage with one match remaining.
Luis Enrique’s side had all but sealed another league victory last weekend, defeating Brest 1-0 to go six points clear of Lens with two games remaining and possessing a significantly superior goal difference.
That means that even a Lens victory here would not have prevented the Parisians from increasing their domestic dominance.
PSG has now won a record 14 French titles, with 12 of them coming in the last 14 years, during which time the club has been changed under Qatari ownership.
The league title adds to their trophy haul for the season, which has included the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and French Champions Trophy.
There may be more to come, as the defending European champions play Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30 in Budapest; if they overcome the Gunners, they will become only the second side in modern history to win back-to-back European Cups.
Lens, meanwhile, are now certain to finish second, clinching a place in the league phase of next season’s Champions League as they prepare to compete for the first time since 23/’24.
The northern team will also meet Nice in the French Cup final on Friday, May 22.
This game could have been much more significant if it had been played on the scheduled date in April.
However, it was postponed so that PSG could relax between the two legs of their Champions League quarterfinal against Liverpool.
That finally took the sting out of the occasion, and the visitors’ starting lineup lacked crucial players such as Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, captain Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, and Warren Zaire-Emery.
Despite the substitutions, PSG took the lead at Stade Bollaert-Delelis when Ousmane Dembele intercepted a Malang Sarr clearing, allowing this week’s Ligue 1 player of the year to control and score.
Abdallah Sima hit the post for Lens on 74 minutes, and Florian Thauvin’s goal was disallowed for offside late on, before Senegal international Mbaye made it 2-0 in stoppage time.
