In the end, it does not matter the way and the result. The title is there, even though it was “celebrated” with embarrassing indifference. Despite its draw against Lens this Saturday, April 23 (1-1), Paris Saint-Germain have again become champions of France. The news is not a surprise but its formalization was expected. Four days before the end of the championship, the Parisian club was crowned despite its draw against the Sang et Or, who remain placed in the race for Europe.
After having broken their teeth for a long time on solid Lensois, PSG thought they had secured the blow thanks to a sumptuous goal from Lionel Messi. While PSG besieged the artesian cage without success for more than an hour, the Argentine genius pulled out of his boot a gesture of which he has the secret. Well shifted by Neymar near the surface, Messi controlled and chained with a clear and overpowering curling shot from the left (1-0, 67th).
Securities
— Paris Saint Germain (@PSG_inside) April 23, 2022
Mute since the start of the meeting because of the strike at the Auteuil bend, the Parc des Princes suddenly roared and the “Messi, Messi” descended from the spans. Without being brilliant, PSG did the main thing. Muzzled, the Lensois did not seem able to spoil the Parisian party. But after a counter at the end of the match, Corentin Jean appeared at the far post to push the ball into the empty goal. Lens equalized, and somewhat spoiled the coronation, while, as promised, the Parisian Ultras began to celebrate the title outside the stadium with fireworks.
After ceding its throne to LOSC last season, Paris is back at the top of the French league for the tenth time in its history, in just 52 years of existence. The icing on the cake: this new coronation allows PSG to overtake OM, blocked at 9 since 2010. And above all to equal AS Saint-Etienne’s record with ten titles.
With eight titles in the last ten editions, PSG have reigned supreme since the arrival of Qatari investors from QSI in 2011. Since the 2012-2013 season, the Parisians have left only two titles to the competition. In total, only Montpellier in 2011-2012, Monaco in 2016-2017 and Lille last year were able to challenge the blue and red hegemony since the start of the Qatari era.
With such a total, Paris returns to match Saint-Etienne by lifting a tenth trophy. Hegemonic in their time, the Stéphanois had won seven championships in ten seasons between 1967 and 1976, before pocketing the last in 1981, the only one with Michel Platini in their ranks.