PSG\u2019s 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)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
PARIS\u2014 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.<\/p>\n
PSG secured its fifth straight French league crown \u2014 and record-extending 14th overall \u2014 by beating closest chaser Lens 2-0 on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
READ: Paris Saint-Germain returns to Champions League final<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s Most worthy clubs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the primary time in my three seasons here that there\u2019s been a real rival,\u201d PSG coach Luis Enrique said, praising Lens and its coach Pierre Sage. \u201cIt has been motivating, they’ve shown their level.\u201d<\/p>\n Last season saw PSG wrapping up the title with six games to spare \u2014 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.<\/p>\n READ: \u2018Magical\u2019 Dembele brace fires Paris Saint-Germain top in France<\/strong><\/p>\n It was not really easy this time.<\/p>\n PSG has lost five league games up to now and is nine points ahead of one-time champion Lens heading into Sunday\u2019s final round.<\/p>\n Sage\u2019s far smaller squad was hit by fatigue and the team \u2014 nonetheless willing \u2014 couldn’t realistically sustain the challenge over 34 matches. It was PSG\u2019s fifth straight league title since Lille\u2019s championship victory in 2021.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a more in-depth take a look at the way it was won.<\/p>\n PSG relied heavily on the scoring of Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 last season when he netted 21 goals within the league.<\/p>\n This season no PSG player was near the highest of the scoring charts and the goals have been spread around.<\/p>\n Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 and winger Bradley Barcola have netted 10 each, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (8), D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 (7) and Gon\u00e7alo Ramos (6) all contributing at key moments.<\/p>\n In years to return, Kvaratskhelia may eventually be seen as one of the best signing within the club\u2019s history. The Georgia winger has been inspirational for PSG all season.<\/p>\n For not only does he provide incredible speed, ending and dribbling from the left wing \u2014 despite the fact that he can play with almost equal efficiency on the proper \u2014 his tireless running and relentless tracking back marks him out as an excellent defender.<\/p>\n No wonder Luis Enrique was delighted to sign him from Napoli in January last yr, having failed in a previous bid.<\/p>\n Although he paid a big transfer fee of 70 million euros (then $72 million) it’s beginning to appear to be a bargain.<\/p>\n PSG\u2019s 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)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Luis Enrique showed a ruthless streak by dropping goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier \u2014 a summer signing to exchange Gianluigi Donnarumma \u2014 and replacing him with Matvei Safonov, who made several saves against Lens on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Luis Enrique sent a transparent message to his players that status and status don’t offer them any guarantees.<\/p>\n He did the identical last season when he dropped Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He also managed the fatigue levels of his players well in a season which began with recurring injuries.<\/p>\n While he usually rested captain Marquinhos and Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 in Ligue 1, he kept midfielders Vitinha and Warren Za\u00efre-Emery within the side as near ever-presents.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all the time search for what\u2019s best for every player individually. If you happen to play less or more, it doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re weak or strong, but that you may have different needs,\u201d Luis Enrique explained. \u201cI all the time aim to get the three points, but additionally to guard the players\u2019 health.\u201d<\/p>\n He was also magnanimous in a rare defeat \u2014 namely when Sage won the award for the French league\u2019s coach of the yr.<\/p>\n \u201cHe deserves to win this trophy,\u201d Luis Enrique said. \u201cBecause what he\u2019s done with Lens is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n PSG\u2019s 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 \u2014 against Chelsea within the last 16 and Liverpool within the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n It helped PSG\u2019s cause, but was to not the liking of neutrals and arguably worked against Lens\u2019 probabilities of winning the title.<\/p>\n PSG\u2019s players looked fresh against Liverpool, which didn’t benefit from having the ability to postpone a Premier League game.<\/p>\n PSG also had fewer games than usual after being knocked out of the French Cup early on by city rival Paris FC.<\/p>\n Still, Luis Enrique\u2019s shrewd use of substitutes also proved fruitful with 28 goals scored by players coming off the bench.<\/p>\n He also eased back injured players like Fabi\u00e1n Ruiz and Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 through the use of a wise turnover when required.<\/p>\nSharing the goals<\/h2>\n
Kvaratskhelia\u2019s impact<\/h2>\n
Ruthless selections<\/h2>\n
![\"PSG](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/05\/AP26133760604149-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFresh players<\/h2>\n