Paris Saint-Germain wrapped up a fifth consecutive Ligue 1 crown in clinical fashion, cruising to a 2-0 victory over nearest challengers Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The triumph, sealed with a match to spare, underlined the capital club’s vice-like grip on French football and moved them clear of Marseille to become the most decorated side in league history with 14 titles. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s first-half strike and a late effort from substitute Ibrahim Mbaye ensured the visitors reached an unassailable 76 points, leaving second-placed Lens nine adrift.
The Georgian winger broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark, punishing a Lens defence that had been the league’s meanest. A swift passing move cut through the home side, and Kvaratskhelia showed composure to slot past the goalkeeper from inside the area. As the encounter ticked into stoppage time, teenager Mbaye pounced on a rebound to spark scenes of celebration among the travelling support. For manager Luis Enrique, the title was a testament to PSG’s consistency across a gruelling campaign, even as the team occasionally rotated with one eye on European commitments.
Domestic dominance is now the norm in Paris, with five titles in as many seasons rewriting the record books. Yet the ultimate prize remains the Champions League, and PSG will contest the final against Arsenal later this month. The showdown in Munich offers a chance to shed their nearly-men tag on the continent, and Wednesday’s business-like performance suggests a squad fully focused on that date with destiny. Kvaratskhelia, signed amid great fanfare, has become the attacking fulcrum that Ousmane Dembélé’s departure demanded, and his 18th goal of the league season was another reminder of his star quality.
Across the Alps, Inter Milan completed a domestic double by defeating Lazio 2-0 in the Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico. The Nerazzurri, already runaway Serie A champions, added the cup courtesy of an Adam Marusic own goal and a Lautaro Martínez tap-in. The victory rubber-stamped Simone Inzaghi’s tactical mastery and deepened the sense that this Inter side is constructing a modern dynasty in Italian football.
The breakthrough came inside the first quarter of an hour when a corner kick caused chaos in the Lazio box. Marusic, under no immediate pressure, misjudged a defensive header and nodded the ball into his own net. The error punctured Lazio’s resolve, and ten minutes before half-time, Nuno Tavares was caught dawdling on the ball deep in his own half. Marcus Thuram pounced, drove forward, and squared for Martínez to double the lead from close range. The Argentine forward’s 25th goal of an outstanding season all but killed the contest, and Inter saw out the second half with minimal fuss.
The result means Inzaghi has now guided Inter to multiple trophies in back-to-back campaigns, cementing his status as one of Europe’s most underrated coaches. For Lazio, the defeat extended a 16-year wait for a Coppa Italia triumph, and the late scuffles that broke out between the sides betrayed simmering frustration. The double, however, belongs to Inter, and the Lombardy giants can now plan for next season with the core of a winning side intact.
In Spain, the battle to avoid relegation took a dramatic turn as Alavés stunned newly crowned champions Barcelona 1-0 at the Mendizorroza. Ibrahim Diabate’s goal in first-half stoppage time proved the difference, lifting the Basque outfit out of the bottom three with two rounds left. Barcelona, resting several stars ahead of their Champions League final, failed to clear a corner, and when Antonio Blanco’s header was parried, the on-loan forward Diabate reacted quickest to force the ball over the line. The result catapulted Alavés to 15th place, though only five points separate eighth-placed Real Sociedad from 19th-placed Girona, leaving the table on a knife edge.
Elsewhere, Sevilla produced a stirring comeback to win 3-2 at Villarreal, digging themselves out of a 2-0 hole after 20 minutes. Oso and Kike Salas levelled before the break, and Akor Adams crashed home the winner on 72 minutes. The Andalusians’ fourth win in five matches pushed them four points clear of danger and underscored the resilience instilled by new manager Quique Sánchez Flores. Espanyol, too, gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm with a 2-0 home success over Athletic Bilbao. Pere Milla broke the deadlock midway through the second half, and Kike García added a second deep into injury time, simultaneously damaging Athletic’s push for a European spot.
Getafe secured safety in style, beating Mallorca 3-1 at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez with Martén Satriano netting twice. The Uruguayan forward terrorised the visitors’ backline, and Getafe’s cushion above the drop zone is now unassailable. For Mallorca, the defeat dragged them to within a single goal difference of the relegation places, with 39 points leaving them in 17th. The chaos is amplified by a cluster of four clubs all sitting on the same points total, including Girona, who hold a game in hand but face an anxious run-in.
Real Oviedo became the first team officially relegated earlier this week without playing, after a combination of other results left them 10 points adrift with three games to go. Yet 12 sides remain mathematically in peril, a staggering statistic that highlights the league’s unusual compression. With two weekends of action remaining, every goal carries seismic consequences. The drama will only intensify when Girona host Real Sociedad on Thursday, a fixture that could reshape the bottom half of the table once again. Based on reporting from The Guardian.