Paris Saint-Germain have won their 11th Ligue 1 title after confirming Les Parisiens’ success in Strasbourg, but Christophe Galtier’s men crossed the line in typically unconvincing fashion with a Lionel Messi goal in a 1-1 draw in Alsace.
The result definitively put the Championnat crown beyond the reach of second-placed RC Lens, but the Northerners beat AC Ajaccio 3–0 at home while PSG were kept off the road by ex-player Kevin Gameiro’s late equalizer for the hosts.
The French champions needed only a point at Stade de la Meinau or at home next week at Clermont Foot to confirm their successful title defence, but we were already in troublesome territory as PSG added weeks to their latest title success.
“Winning national titles is important,” said Renato Sanche after the game. “It’s still a title. Winning titles like that is always difficult, even if you’re us. This is still a title and an achievement. It was tough collectively and individually.”
“It’s been a success domestically,” Galtier added. “We are champions. Catastrophic seasons are the seasons where PSG don’t finish champions. To become champions, performance is required. The two or three times PSG haven’t been champions, those were very, very difficult seasons. We are champions and we won the Trophee des Champions. We suffered major slumps in the second half of the campaign and there are statements that we will analyze calmly and with the necessary clarity.”
This is PSG’s sixth time back-to-back – still a cut short of Olympique Lyonnais’ seven consecutive wins from 2002-08 – but it almost feels worthless now that the Qatar-backed capital club lives or dies by their UEFA Champions League campaigns.
PSG came closest to Les Gones’ historic achievement through their four consecutive titles from 2013-2016 and until this 2022-23 season, French capital and cult favorites AS Saint-Etienne were tied at 10 titles apiece – so something truly historic.
However, Les Verts are now languishing in Ligue 2 and won’t return to the top flight next season, while PSG go on to claim their ninth title since taking over in 2011 and it all feels like winning the league was the bare minimum that of Kylian Mbappé and company was expected.
The French superstar tops the Ligue 1 goalscoring tally with 28 goals and can confirm his status as this season’s top scorer next week, but even he’s putting in some hard work with Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette second on 27 goals.
The former Arsenal man scored in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over American-owned OL at Stade de Reims, as long-time outgoing president Jean-Michel Aulas tearfully bid farewell to the Groupama Stadium, after more than 36 years of combined history to have written.
Despite having now reached the numerical milestone of 11 French titles, it still feels like PSG is missing out on the truly historic achievements such as consecutive crowns and even unbeaten seasons that have been within their reach for years.
Even domestic clean sweeps do not take place these days due to underperformance and that despite the fact that the Coupe de la Ligue has been discontinued as a domestic competition.
Bayern Munich also clinched their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title on the same day as PSG’s 11th ever and heads immediately rolled in Bavaria as goals were not met during the term.
PSG need to demand more of themselves if they are to have a chance at a taste of the Champions League success they crave and that mindset change needs to start now.