Despite a performance that wasn’t always sparkling, Paris Saint-Germain clinched the Ligue 1 title on Wednesday evening, defeating Lens 2-0 on the road. The Parisian squad secured their 14th French championship in club history, marking their fifth consecutive league triumph, largely thanks to a formidable display by goalkeeper Matveï Safonov.
The inevitable has officially happened. Paris Saint-Germain, already all but certain to be crowned champions, confirmed their Ligue 1 title aspirations this Wednesday night with a decisive 2-0 victory over Lens. Goals from Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia in the 29th minute and Ibrahim Mbaye in the 90th+3 minute sealed the deal against a Lens side that had already secured its spot in the upcoming Champions League.
Luis Enrique’s squad endured significant pressure throughout the match but ultimately prevailed, largely due to the exceptional performance of Matveï Safonov, who made several critical saves. This triumph solidifies Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance in French football, marking their record-extending 14th league title and an impressive fifth consecutive championship win.
Trailing at the close of the first half, the Lens players had every right to feel frustrated as they headed into the locker room. Manager Pierre Sage’s team had created a cascade of scoring opportunities but failed to convert any into goals. With 14 attempts, including six on target, the lack of a breakthrough was palpable. 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.
Parisian clinical edge punishes Lens’ lone error
The Parisians, by contrast, capitalized on a solitary error to punish their hosts. After intercepting a one-touch pass from Malang Sarr, a relentless Ousmane Dembélé launched Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia straight through the middle. Kvaratskhelia then unleashed a powerful 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 whose cross-shot was expertly parried by Risser in the 43rd minute.
“It’s a mixed feeling. We are happy with our game but frustrated with the result. We played well, but we need to convert our chances into goals,” Lens coach Pierre Sage commented at halftime. His words, however, did not immediately translate into action for his players. Shortly after returning to the pitch, the northern side created another opportunity, but Sima lost his one-on-one duel with Matveï Safonov in the 46th minute.
Sima, demonstrating strength against Lucas Hernandez, saw his subsequent shot (again) pushed away by Safonov’s chest in the 54th minute. While Paris Saint-Germain had a dangerous moment through Dembélé in the 57th minute, Lens quickly resumed their assault on the Parisian goal. Illia Zabarnyi deflected two shots from Saint-Maximin in the 72nd and 73rd minutes, and the post came to Safonov’s rescue after Sima had beaten him in the 74th minute.
The Russian goalkeeper was once again decisive, making a crucial foot save from Sangaré following a cross by Udol in the 80th minute. Relentless, the Parisians punished Lens a second time on a counter-attack. Doué delivered a cross for Mbaye, who scored with a superb one-touch strike that found the net via the crossbar in the 90th+3 minute. Thauvin then tried his luck, but his off-target attempt perfectly encapsulated his team’s lack of clinical finishing in the 90th+6 minute.
As Paris Saint-Germain prepares to conclude their championship season at Paris FC, Lens, the impressive runners-up, will head to Lyon next Sunday to finish what has been a truly fabulous Ligue 1 season. Both teams will then have further opportunities to vie for additional silverware: the Coupe de France for Lens, and the prestigious Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain.
Player spotlight: safonov was simply unbeatable
After being rested against Brest, Matveï Safonov returned to the starting lineup for Paris Saint-Germain’s crucial match in Lens. The Russian shot-stopper once again demonstrated why he is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for PSG. Despite Lens unleashing 25 shots, with 10 on target, Safonov remained impenetrable, making eight vital saves to thwart the opposing attackers.
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 for Paris Saint-Germain under QSI ownership. On the rare occasion he was beaten, the post intervened to save him in the 74th minute. “We came up against a very great goalkeeper today,” Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré admitted after the match, undoubtedly disheartened by his opponent’s performance.