PSG Ligue 1 champions again
Lionel Messi found the back of the net as Paris St Germain bagged a record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 title with one game to spare with a mediocre 1-1 draw at Racing Strasbourg on Saturday.
The result put PSG on 85 points, four ahead of RC Lens, who secured second place and a place in next season’s Champions League — a first for the Sang et Or in 21 years — with a 3-0 hammering of AC Ajaccio in a boiling hot Bollaert-Delelis stadium.
“Everything was not perfect, but this title belongs to the players. Being French champions is always something,” said coach Christophe Galtier.
Marseille will finish third after being left with 73 points following a 2-1 home defeat by Stade Brestois.
Lille are fourth on 66 points after a couple of Jonathan David penalties gave them a 2-1 home win against relegation-threatened Nantes.
Stade Rennais leapfrogged Monaco into fifth place with a 2-0 victory against the principality side, who are behind on goal difference with 65 points, leaving the fight for a spot in the Europa League to be decided in the final round of matches.
The fourth-placed team qualify for the Europa League, where they will join French Cup winners Toulouse.
In Strasbourg, PSG were their usual disappointing selves until Messi opened the scoring with a right footed effort into the top corner.
Strasbourg had their chances but failed to convert as they secured their place in the elite for next season.
Troyes, Ajaccio and Angers were already relegated and they will be joined into Ligue 2 either by AJ Auxerre or Nantes.
Lens won their ticket for Europe’s premier club competition as Lois Openda became the club’s top scorer in the top flight with 20 goals — level with Roger Boli who reached that tally in the 1993-94 season.
Openda scored the third goal with a penalty after Deiver Machado and Adrien Thomasson had put the hosts ahead in the first half.