Ligue 1
Kvaratskhelia, Mbaye secure Ligue 1 title for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain was crowned Ligue 1 champion for the fifth consecutive season as goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ibrahim Mbaye sealed a 2-0 win over Lens.… Show More
Paris Saint-Germain was crowned Ligue 1 champion for the fifth consecutive season as goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ibrahim Mbaye sealed a 2-0 win over Lens.
Luis Enrique's side knew a point was all it needed against second-placed Lens, but it managed to achieve all three to clinch the title with one game to spare.
Lens started brightly and had two glorious chances in quick succession to take the lead in the 20th minute. Wesley Said first saw his shot saved by Matvey Safonov before Adrien Thomasson's header from the rebound was cleared off the line by Illia Zabarnyi.
But for all of Lens's pressure, PSG went ahead nine minutes later when Ousmane Dembele pinched possession from Malang Sarr and slipped in Kvaratskhelia, who took a touch and picked out the bottom-left corner.
Dembele, who was crowned the Ligue 1 Player of the Year ahead of kick-off, should have doubled his team's lead just before the break, but he dragged his shot agonisingly wide, as Safonov tipped Said's close-range attempt over the crossbar at the other end.
Lens continued to cause problems after the restart, but Safonov was on hand to repel Abdallah Sima's effort, while Allan Saint-Maximin saw his strike deflect onto the roof of the net.
Sima struck the right post for Pierre Sage's men, and Mamadou Sangare's attempt was saved by the feet of Safonov as Lens pinned back PSG in search of a leveller.
However, it was hit by a sucker punch in the third minute of stoppage time when Mbaye thundered his shot in off the crossbar.
PSG's victory saw it become the third team to seal the Ligue 1 title against the team that would end the season in second.
Although Kvaratskhelia and Mbaye will grab the headlines for their goals, PSG was indebted to some crucial saves from Safonov. The visiting goalkeeper made eight saves, which helped him register his eighth clean sheet in the league this season.








