- Paris Saint-Germain is set to face its closest competitor, RC Lens, in a rescheduled Ligue 1 match on Wednesday, May 13th.
- This crucial encounter could see the capital club clinch an unprecedented fifth consecutive French championship title.
Could Paris Saint-Germain be on track for a domestic and European double? Having already secured a spot in the Champions League final for the second year running, the Parc des Princes residents now have the opportunity to claim their first major trophy of the season this Wednesday, May 13th. Dominating the league standings with 73 points, the Parisians travel to face Lens (67 points), who have enjoyed an exceptional season and hold a strong second place, in this pivotal rescheduled match from the 29th day of Ligue 1.
The capital club, vying for its 14th overall title in the competition and a remarkable fifth in a row, is on the verge of making further history. They could become only the third team in the 21st century to mathematically seal the championship during a direct confrontation with their future runner-up. This rare feat was previously achieved by Lyon against Lens in the 2001-2002 season and by PSG themselves against Monaco in 2017-2018, underscoring the significance of this upcoming fixture.
a draw or victory will crown Paris officially as champions
To secure the coveted Ligue 1 trophy as early as this Wednesday, Luis Enrique’s squad simply needs to avoid defeat. A draw at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, a venue where the northern club has suffered only two losses this season, would be enough for them to celebrate. With 74 points, they would be mathematically uncatchable by the final matchday on Sunday, May 17th, as Lens would then only reach 68 points. Naturally, a victory for the Parisian side would also definitively seal the championship, establishing an even greater lead.
favorable goal difference a decisive factor
Conversely, for Lens to maintain even a slim hope of contention, they absolutely must secure a win on their home ground against a visiting Paris Saint-Germain team potentially impacted by injuries. Several key players like Nuno Mendes, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Lee Kang-In, and Achraf Hakimi, along with Willian Pacho and Lucas Chevalier, are reported unavailable. Should Lens emerge victorious, they would reach 70 points, narrowing the gap to three points behind their opponents. This would theoretically allow them to draw level on the 38th and final matchday, provided the stars align, and PSG were to lose their derby match against Paris FC.
However, even this highly improbable scenario is unlikely to prevent Marquinhos’ teammates from claiming another title. PSG boasts a significantly superior goal difference (+44 compared to Lens’ +29). This crucial factor is used to break ties in the standings. In essence, even with a loss, Paris Saint-Germain is unlikely to relinquish the top spot, unless Lens manages to overcome the substantial 15-goal difference separating the two teams – an exceptionally challenging feat.
Parisian coach Luis Enrique, speaking after his team’s 1-0 victory over Brest, acknowledged the situation with confidence. He emphasized, “We must highlight what Lens has achieved all season; they have performed at an incredible level, making it very difficult for us,”
but added, “we are already champions, 99.9%.”
The question now remains whether that percentage will reach a definitive 100% this Wednesday, or if the official confirmation will have to wait until the final weekend of the competition.
