Safonov’s heroics seal psg’s record 14th ligue 1 championship

Paris Saint-Germain has officially claimed their 14th French championship title, securing the coveted Ligue 1 trophy with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Lens. Despite not always playing their most dazzling football, the Parisian giants relied on a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matveï Safonov to clinch their fifth consecutive league crown, a testament to their enduring dominance in French football.

The decisive goals came from Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia in the 29th minute and Ibrahim Mbaye in the 90th minute plus three, sealing the historic win. This triumph solidifies PSG’s position at the pinnacle of French football, setting a new record for most Ligue 1 titles in their illustrious history.

The match at Lens, a team already qualified for the upcoming Champions League, saw Luis Enrique’s squad battle through intense pressure. Lens created a flurry of opportunities, particularly in the first half, but consistently found themselves thwarted by PSG’s resolute defense and, crucially, the impenetrable form of Matveï Safonov.

a single lensois misstep proves costly for the hosts

The home side, under coach Pierre Sage, could only rue their missed chances at halftime. Despite 14 attempts, with six finding the target, Lens failed to convert any into goals. Wesley Saïd (20th, 36th, 45th + 3), Adrien Thomasson (20th, 33rd), Odsonne Édouard (24th), and Abdallah Sima (38th, 39th, 41st) all tested the Parisian goal without success, highlighting their frustration.

Paris, on the other hand, capitalized on a solitary error to punish their hosts. Following an intercepted one-touch pass from Malang Sarr, a persistent Ousmane Dembélé launched Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia through the center. Kvaratskhelia’s precise cross-shot beat Robin Risser in the 29th minute, giving PSG the lead. The capital club nearly doubled their advantage when Bradley Barcola recovered the ball near the Lens box and set up Dembélé, whose powerful shot was expertly saved by Risser in the 43rd minute.

Coach Sage expressed his mixed feelings at halftime, stating, “It’s a double feeling. We are happy with the game we are delivering and frustrated with the result. We are playing well, but we need to convert situations into goals.” His words, however, didn’t immediately inspire his team, as Abdallah Sima squandered another one-on-one opportunity against Matveï Safonov right after the break in the 46th minute.

Sima continued to press, resisting Lucas Hernandez, but his subsequent shot was again pushed away by Safonov’s chest in the 54th minute. After a dangerous PSG attack by Dembélé (57th), Lens resumed their assault on the Parisian goal. Illia Zabarnyi deflected two shots from Saint-Maximin (72nd, 73rd), and the post came to Safonov’s rescue from another Sima attempt that had beaten him in the 74th minute.

The Russian goalkeeper remained vigilant, making another crucial foot save on a Sangaré volley following a cross from Udol in the 80th minute. With clinical precision, the Parisians punished Lens a second time on the counter-attack, as Doué’s cross found Mbaye, who scored with a superb one-touch strike that rattled off the crossbar and in, in the 90th minute plus three. Thauvin’s late attempt, which sailed wide, perfectly encapsulated Lens’s lack of fortune throughout the match.

As PSG concludes their championship season on the pitch of Paris FC, Lens, who have been magnificent runners-up, will face Lyon next Sunday to complete what has been a truly remarkable Ligue 1 campaign. Both teams will then have the opportunity to compete for additional silverware: the Coupe de France for Lens and the Champions League for PSG.

the standout performer: safonov was simply unbeatable

Returning to the starting lineup after Renato Marin’s appearance against Brest, Matveï Safonov reaffirmed his status as PSG’s primary goalkeeper during the critical trip to Lens. Despite facing a staggering 25 shots, 10 of which were on target from the Lensois, Safonov remained unyielding, making eight crucial saves to frustrate the opposition attackers.

Only Gianluigi Donnarumma (10 saves against Marseille on March 31, 2024) and Keylor Navas (9 saves against Rennes on May 9, 2021) have recorded more saves in a single Ligue 1 match for Paris Saint-Germain under QSI ownership. Even when beaten, Safonov had the post to thank in the 74th minute. “We came up against a very great goalkeeper today,” conceded Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré after the match, undoubtedly disheartened by his opponent’s performance.

This victory also marks a significant milestone for coach Luis Enrique, who has now secured his third Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, equaling Laurent Blanc’s record for a PSG manager. Enrique’s current trophy tally with the club stands at 11, matching Blanc’s impressive total.