Sports

PSG win 12th Ligue 1 title

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were crowned Ligue 1 champions for a record-extending 12th time on Sunday, as their third straight title was wrapped up.

This was following another dominant domestic campaign when second-placed AS Monaco lost 3-2 at Olympique Lyonnais.

PSG, who missed the chance to secure the Ligue 1 title on Saturday when they drew 3-3 draw with Le Havre, have 70 points, 12 ahead of Monaco with three games remaining.

PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on the club’s website: “Winning the league is fantastic, but winning Ligue 1 for the twelfth time is even more special for everyone connected to Paris Saint-Germain.

“We’re going to enjoy this moment as a family. And also keep working hard, game after game, until the last moment of the season.”

Monaco were the only side left who could prevent PSG from lifting the title, but their faint hopes were extinguished in Lyon as they fell to their first defeat in nine games, despite taking an early lead.

The visitors scored with a little over 20 seconds on the clock, with Wissam Ben Yedder tapping home Takumi Minamino’s cross at the back post.

Monaco were 2-1 down within 25 minutes through goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Said Benrahma.

UCL: PSG beat Barcelona to set up semi-final clash with Dortmund

Ben Yedder brought the sides level again on the hour mark, heading home a floated ball into the box by Youssouf Fofana.

But it was Lyon who found a winner six minutes from time with Malick Fofana scoring from outside the area.

After Saturday’s draw which kept the champagne on ice, PSG manager Luis Enrique was unconcerned, safe in the knowledge that their far superior goal difference meant the title was all but assured.

Enrique, who took over at PSG at the end of last season, said: “We’re champions. I don’t care if there’s a party or not.

“We have a goal difference of plus 29 on the second place, I already feel like champions. Even if we don’t score any more points, we’ll be champions.”

The champions suffered just one league defeat this season, against Nice in September 2023.

PSG are still involved in the Champions League and they also have the Coupe de France final against Lyon to come, in what could turn out to be the club’s finest ever season.

French star Kylian Mbappe is leaving at the end of the campaign and would love to bow out on a high, and this season is already his best in terms of goals scored, netting 43 times in all competitions.

It has long been PSG’s goal to win the Champions League, but few expected it in the manager’s first season.

Now that the Ligue 1 title is secured, the treble-bid is on, beginning on Wednesday with the semi-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund.

The Star

Segun Ojo

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