PSG close in on Ligue 1 title after Brest win

PSG are on the brink of another Ligue 1 title after a 1-0 win over Brest left them six points clear of Lens with two games remaining. Desire Doue came off the bench to score the winner as the race for European places also tightened.

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain moved to the verge of another Ligue 1 crown after beating Brest 1-0 on Sunday, a result that left Luis Enrique’s side six points ahead of second-placed Lens with two matches left to play.

Although PSG were not yet mathematically confirmed as champions, the result effectively put them in control of the title race because they also hold a far better goal difference than Lens. According to the standings outlined after Sunday’s matches, PSG will be officially crowned French champions for a fifth straight season, and for the 12th time in the last 14 years, if they avoid defeat away to Lens on Wednesday.

Even if PSG were to lose their final two league fixtures and Lens were to win both of theirs, Lens would still need to make up a 15-goal swing, a task described as almost certainly beyond Pierre Sage’s team.

PSG made several changes following their Champions League semi-final second leg away to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, with Desire Doue among nine players left out of the starting line-up. The France international was introduced in the second half and scored the only goal in the 83rd minute with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Luis Enrique’s team are also preparing for the Champions League final against Arsenal later this month after getting past Bayern 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-final.

Lens secure Champions League place

Lens had already sealed a place in next season’s Champions League league phase with a 1-0 victory over Nantes on Friday. Pierre Sage’s side will also face Nice in the French Cup final on May 22.

Behind the top two, Lille climbed into third place after a 1-0 win away to Monaco on Sunday on the penultimate weekend of the season. The decisive moment came in the second half when Monaco captain Denis Zakaria put through his own net, handing Lille all three points in the principality.

The win extended Lille’s unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to 13 matches and lifted them above Lyon, who were beaten 2-1 at Toulouse. Corentin Tolisso scored for Lyon after Dayann Methalie had equalised, but Warren Kamanzi restored Toulouse’s lead. Toulouse then held on despite having Aron Donnum sent off.

Under Ligue 1’s qualification system, the top three teams advance directly to the Champions League, while the fourth-placed side enters the qualifying rounds and must come through two two-legged ties to reach the league phase.

European race remains tight

Rennes, in fifth place, came from behind to defeat Paris FC 2-1 at home. Willem Geubbels gave the visitors the lead before the division’s top scorer Esteban Lepaul levelled with his 20th goal of the season. Breel Embolo then scored the winner for Rennes.

Rennes remain in position to qualify for the Europa League, but they are only two points behind third-placed Lille and one point behind fourth-placed Lyon. They are also three points clear of sixth-placed Marseille, whom they will meet away from home on the final day next Sunday.

Marseille, after a difficult second half of the season, won 1-0 at Le Havre. Mason Greenwood scored his 16th league goal of the campaign from the penalty spot, while Sofiane Boufal failed to convert a penalty for the home side.

Marseille will finish fifth if they beat Rennes next week, but will end up sixth if they draw. A defeat could still leave them below Monaco, who are seventh.

Sixth place carries a Conference League berth, but it could become a Europa League place if Lens win the French Cup. In that scenario, seventh place would then qualify for the Conference League.