PSG lose to Paris FC after lifting Ligue 1 trophy as Lille seal Champions League spot

PARIS: Newly crowned Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain were beaten 2-1 by Paris FC on Sunday in their final match before the Champions League final against Arsenal, while Lille secured third place and a return to Europe’s top club competition on the last day of the French season.

PSG had already wrapped up a fifth consecutive French title, and the 14th league crown in the club’s history, after defeating nearest challengers Lens 2-0 on Wednesday. The trophy was presented to them before kick-off at the Stade Jean-Bouin.

Coach Luis Enrique named many of his key players for PSG’s last outing before the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30, where the French side will try to defend the European title they won for the first time last season.

However, PSG suffered an injury concern when Ousmane Dembele, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, was forced off before the half-hour mark. Bradley Barcola put PSG ahead early in the second half, but Paris FC turned the game around through substitute Alimami Gory, who scored the equaliser and then struck again in stoppage time.

Paris FC ended the campaign in 11th place in their first season back in the top division following promotion.

Speaking about Dembele after the match, Luis Enrique said:

"I think it was just due to fatigue," said Luis Enrique of Dembele. "It has been a tricky end to the season but now we have two weeks to prepare for the biggest match in our history."

Lille take third despite defeat

Lille confirmed third place and qualification for next season’s Champions League despite losing 2-0 at home to Auxerre. Malian international Lassine Sinayoko scored once in each half for Auxerre, whose victory ensured their survival.

Lille held on to third because Lyon failed to capitalise, suffering a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Lens. That result left Lyon in fourth place.

Wesley Said scored twice for Lens, while Florian Sotoca added a third in first-half stoppage time. Florian Thauvin then completed the scoring after the interval.

Lens had already secured runners-up spot and a place in next season’s Champions League. They will also play Nice in the French Cup final next Friday.

European places and relegation play-off picture

Although Lyon missed out on third place, they will still enter the Champions League for the first time since 2020. However, they must begin in the third qualifying round in early August and will need to progress through two ties to reach the league phase. If they fail to do so, they will drop into the Europa League.

Marseille booked their place in the Europa League by defeating Rennes 3-1 at the Velodrome. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Amine Gouiri scored early, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a third. Esteban Lepaul pulled one back for Rennes and finished the season as Ligue 1’s top scorer with 21 goals.

That win allowed Marseille to move above Rennes into fifth place on goal difference. Rennes finished sixth and must now wait to learn which European competition they will enter.

If Lens win the French Cup, Rennes will qualify for the Europa League. Otherwise, they will go into the Conference League. In the event of a Lens cup triumph, seventh-placed Monaco would take the final European berth.