PSG’s players rejoice after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, unseen, scored the opening goal in the course of the French League One soccer match between Lens and Paris Saint Germain, in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
PARIS— Paris Saint-Germain ended up with the title again, but not less than it had a rival for a lot of the season this time.
PSG secured its fifth straight French league crown — and record-extending 14th overall — by beating closest chaser Lens 2-0 on Wednesday.
READ: Paris Saint-Germain returns to Champions League final
It finally ended the resistance of Lens, which held its own until the penultimate round despite having a much smaller squad and budget than PSG, one in every of the world’s Most worthy clubs.
“It’s the primary time in my three seasons here that there’s been a real rival,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said, praising Lens and its coach Pierre Sage. “It has been motivating, they’ve shown their level.”
Last season saw PSG wrapping up the title with six games to spare — and the one two league defeats of that campaign got here after the title was sealed. PSG finished 19 points clear of second-place Marseille and scored a whopping 92 goals.
READ: ‘Magical’ Dembele brace fires Paris Saint-Germain top in France
It was not really easy this time.
PSG has lost five league games up to now and is nine points ahead of one-time champion Lens heading into Sunday’s final round.
Sage’s far smaller squad was hit by fatigue and the team — nonetheless willing — couldn’t realistically sustain the challenge over 34 matches. It was PSG’s fifth straight league title since Lille’s championship victory in 2021.
Here’s a more in-depth take a look at the way it was won.
Sharing the goals
PSG relied heavily on the scoring of Ousmane Dembélé last season when he netted 21 goals within the league.
This season no PSG player was near the highest of the scoring charts and the goals have been spread around.
Dembélé and winger Bradley Barcola have netted 10 each, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (8), Désiré Doué (7) and Gonçalo Ramos (6) all contributing at key moments.
Kvaratskhelia’s impact
In years to return, Kvaratskhelia may eventually be seen as one of the best signing within the club’s history. The Georgia winger has been inspirational for PSG all season.
For not only does he provide incredible speed, ending and dribbling from the left wing — despite the fact that he can play with almost equal efficiency on the proper — his tireless running and relentless tracking back marks him out as an excellent defender.
No wonder Luis Enrique was delighted to sign him from Napoli in January last yr, having failed in a previous bid.
Although he paid a big transfer fee of 70 million euros (then $72 million) it’s beginning to appear to be a bargain.
Ruthless selections
PSG’s goalkeeper Matvey Safonov reacts after making a save in the course of the French League One soccer match between Lens and Paris Saint Germain, in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Luis Enrique showed a ruthless streak by dropping goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier — a summer signing to exchange Gianluigi Donnarumma — and replacing him with Matvei Safonov, who made several saves against Lens on Wednesday.
Luis Enrique sent a transparent message to his players that status and status don’t offer them any guarantees.
He did the identical last season when he dropped Dembélé for a vital Champions League game on disciplinary grounds, and the season before when he sold Neymar and Marco Verratti in an effort to rebuild the side in his own way.
In an era of accelerating player power, Luis Enrique showed that his authority couldn’t be eroded. He also maintained a detailed bond with the fans, always praising them and even singing one in every of the club anthems with them after PSG knocked out Bayern Munich within the Champions League semifinals.
He also managed the fatigue levels of his players well in a season which began with recurring injuries.
While he usually rested captain Marquinhos and Dembélé in Ligue 1, he kept midfielders Vitinha and Warren Zaïre-Emery within the side as near ever-presents.
“We all the time search for what’s best for every player individually. If you happen to play less or more, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or strong, but that you may have different needs,” Luis Enrique explained. “I all the time aim to get the three points, but additionally to guard the players’ health.”
He was also magnanimous in a rare defeat — namely when Sage won the award for the French league’s coach of the yr.
“He deserves to win this trophy,” Luis Enrique said. “Because what he’s done with Lens is incredible.”
Fresh players
PSG’s bid to win a second straight Champions League title was given a sort boost by Ligue 1 postponing two league games which fell between Champions League matches — against Chelsea within the last 16 and Liverpool within the quarterfinals.
It helped PSG’s cause, but was to not the liking of neutrals and arguably worked against Lens’ probabilities of winning the title.
PSG’s players looked fresh against Liverpool, which didn’t benefit from having the ability to postpone a Premier League game.
PSG also had fewer games than usual after being knocked out of the French Cup early on by city rival Paris FC.
Still, Luis Enrique’s shrewd use of substitutes also proved fruitful with 28 goals scored by players coming off the bench.
He also eased back injured players like Fabián Ruiz and Dembélé through the use of a wise turnover when required.
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Dembélé was once more named Ligue 1’s best player despite having began only nine games before the Lens match, and he’s peaking just at the proper time for the Champions League final.