After being virtually crowned last week, Paris Saint-Germain have now made it official. With April barely underway, the Parisian side have sealed the Ligue 1 title in emphatic fashion.
Whichever way you look at it, this season has been a masterclass in dominance. PSG have lifted the trophy unbeaten, dropping points on just five occasions through draws in 28 matches. They currently boast a run of nine consecutive victories, having blown away the competition to finish more than 20 points clear at the top.
It marks PSG’s 13th Ligue 1 title, their fourth in a row, and their eleventh in the last 14 seasons — a testament to their domestic dominance since the club’s modern incarnation began in 1970.
Luis Enrique’s side have had no real rivasl this season. Aside from matchday 7, they have topped the table from start to finish. By late January, after 19 fixtures, they were already 10 points clear of second place, and from then on it was simply a matter of when — not if — they would be crowned champions.
The closest anyone came to beating them was Stade de Reims, who managed to hold PSG to 1-1 draws in both fixtures. Nice (1-1), Nantes (1-1) and Auxerre (0-0) were the only other teams to take a point off the winners.
The post-Mbappe era
Much attention was on PSG following the departure of Kylian Mbappe. While many might argue that Ligue 1 lacks the competitiveness to challenge a club of PSG’s stature, it’s worth noting that the last time they exerted such domestic dominance — during the 2015/16 campaign — Mbappe was still a rookie at Monaco.
That side, managed by Laurent Blanc, included the likes of Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Verratti, Pastore, Cavani, Di Maria, Ibrahimovic and Lucas Moura. And yet, despite their strength, they only sealed the title mathematically two matchdays after suffering their first defeat — which didn’t come until matchday 28.
But this is not just PSG without Mbappe — it’s PSG after the Neymar and Messi era too. With a squad built less on stardust and more on youth, balance and identity, Luis Enrique has shaped a team in his image — one capable of winning collectively, rather than through individual brilliance alone.
One notable exception, however, is Ousmane Dembele, who is in serious contention for the Golden Boot. Back in France with a slow-burning but eventually explosive return, the former Barcelona winger hit top gear in December and has not looked back.
He finished the campaign with 21 goals and six assists in 27 league matches — a remarkable turnaround given he had registered just five of each in his first 12 appearances.
Another bright spark in the front line has been 22-year-old Bradley Barcola. Reaching the 20-mark in combined goals and assists, he was one of the key figures in the first half of the campaign and a symbol of the club’s youthful resurgence.
But the rebuild has deeper roots. Beyond established names such as Donnarumma — the league’s most formidable goalkeeper — Marquinhos, Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi, this season’s success has been underpinned by an exciting new core: Willian Pacho – a revelation in defence. Vitinha and Joao Neves, who have dictated play in midfield, and Desire Doue, who has added a fresh spark in attack. January signing Kvaratskhelia was made with an eye firmly on the Champions League.
A season of records
This is Luis Enrique’s second Ligue 1 title, and he has now won every domestic trophy since taking charge in Paris – two Super Cups, one Coupe de France, and still alive in the current edition.
While all eyes are on the Champions League and league rotation is expected in the coming weeks, PSG still have records in sight.
They have already broken the points record for an 18-team Ligue 1 season. Although this format has only been used for two recent seasons plus the stretch from 1997/98 to 2001/02, the club’s current total of 76 points has far surpassed the previous record of 72, set by Bordeaux in the 1998/99 campaign.