Paris Saint-Germain have lifted the 2022/23 Ligue 1 title. They became champion of France for the eleventh time in club history on Saturday. Lionel Messi scored the only goal for the Parisians in the difficult championship match against RC Strasbourg.
Strasbourg 1-1 PSG
PSG needed one point in Stade de La Meinau to win the national title. The team of trainer Christophe Galtier hardly made an impression in the championship game. With Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the attack, Strasbourg managed to survive against the star team from Paris without many problems.
The best chance in the first half even came in the name of Habib Diallo. The Senegalese top scorer of the number fifteen in Ligue 1 shot hard against the post. On the other hand, Messi shot a free kick just wide of the goal of the Belgian Matz Sels.
The dutifully playing PSG still took the lead after less than an hour via Messi. On a pass from Mbappé, the Argentinian hit the far corner. Strasbourg fought back to 1-1 in the final phase: former PSG striker Kevin Gameiro was alert in the rebound after a deflected shot from Morgan Sanson.
PSG remained upright in the final phase and after the final whistle celebrated the win of the national title remarkably subdued. The party of the Strasbourg players on the field was bigger because the club is now assured of survival. The champion of France will end the season at home next week against Clermont Foot.
Lens 3-0 Ajaccio
RC Lens has secured second place and a Champions League ticket for next season. The runner-up in Ligue 1 won easily against AC Ajaccio on Saturday. Deiver Machado, Adrien Thomasson and Loïs Openda found the net before the break. For ex-Vitesse striker Openda, it was his twentieth goal of this season in the French league. There was no more scoring after the break. Lens returns to the Champions League after twenty years with the victory.
Toulouse 1-1 Auxerre
Branco van den Boomen, who will transfer to Ajax next summer, played his last home game for Toulouse, just like Stijn Spierings. The new Ajax player couldn’t make a difference against AJ Auxerre. The visitors took a point in Stadium Municipal and are therefore assured of survival in Ligue 1. Zakaria Aboukhlal scored the only goal for Toulouse, which is in thirteenth place.
Lille 2-1 Nantes
FC Nantes still has a chance to avoid relegation to Ligue 2. After the defeat at Lille, the eight-time French champion needs a victory to overtake AJ Auxerre on the last day. After Nantes defender Quentin Merlin’s 0-1, Canadian striker Jonathan David was twice accurate from eleven meters. Lille retains fourth place in Ligue 1 with the home win.
