The inevitable has finally arrived. Paris Saint-Germain, already all but assured of the title, officially sealed their Ligue 1 triumph with a decisive 2-0 win against Lens. The goals that secured this momentous achievement came from Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia in the 29th minute and a late strike by Ibrahim Mbaye in the 90th+3 minute, against a Lens side already confirmed for the next Champions League campaign.

Trailing by a single goal at halftime, Lens players undoubtedly felt a deep sense of regret as they headed into the dressing room. Under the guidance of coach Pierre Sage, the home side had created a plethora of scoring opportunities but frustratingly failed to convert any. With 14 attempts, six of which were on target, the first half was a testament to their offensive intent but also their lack of clinical finishing. Wesley Saïd (20th, 36th, 45th+3), Adrien Thomasson (20th, 33rd), Odsonne Édouard (24th), and Abdallah Sima (38th, 39th, 41st) all tested the Parisian defense without success.

Paris capitalizes on a lone Lens misstep

In stark contrast, the Parisians demonstrated ruthless efficiency, punishing their hosts for a solitary defensive lapse. Ousmane Dembélé, relentless in his pressing, intercepted a one-touch pass from Malang Sarr. He then threaded a precise ball through the center to Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia, who clinically fired a cross-shot past goalkeeper Robin Risser in the 29th minute. Paris nearly extended their lead when Bradley Barcola won possession near the Lens box and set up Dembélé, whose powerful cross-shot was expertly parried away by Risser in the 43rd minute.

“It’s a dual feeling. We’re happy with the game we played but frustrated by the outcome. We played well, but we need to convert our chances into goals,” commented coach Sage at halftime. His words, however, did not immediately translate into action for his players. Shortly after the restart, the northern club created another golden opportunity, but Abdallah Sima failed to beat Matveï Safonov in a one-on-one situation in the 46th minute.

Sima later showcased his strength, holding off Lucas Hernandez, but his subsequent shot was once again heroically denied by Safonov’s chest in the 54th minute. Despite a dangerous counter-attack from PSG led by Dembélé in the 57th minute, Lens continued their relentless assault on the Parisian goal. Illia Zabarnyi deflected two shots from Saint-Maximin in the 72nd and 73rd minutes, and then the post came to Safonov’s rescue from another Sima attempt, which had initially beaten the goalkeeper in the 74th minute.

The Russian shot-stopper was once again on hand to make a crucial foot save from a Sangaré volley following a cross from Udol in the 80th minute. With clinical precision, the Parisians delivered a second blow to Lens on a counter-attack. A cross from Doué found Mbaye, who, with a single touch, unleashed a powerful shot that rattled the crossbar before finding the net in the 90th+3 minute. Thauvin took a final shot, but his effort, wide of the mark, perfectly encapsulated his team’s frustrating lack of success throughout the match in the 90th+6 minute.

The player: Safonov proved insurmountable

After being rested for the match against Brest, where Renato Marin started, Matveï Safonov returned to his rightful place as the starting goalkeeper for Paris Saint-Germain’s crucial away fixture at Lens. The Russian shot-stopper unequivocally demonstrated his undisputed status as PSG’s number one. Despite facing a barrage of 25 shots, with 10 on target from the determined Lens attackers, Safonov remained unyielding, making eight crucial saves to thwart every offensive attempt.

Among Paris Saint-Germain goalkeepers during the QSI era, only Gianluigi Donnarumma on March 31, 2024, against Marseille (10 saves) and Keylor Navas on May 9, 2021, against Rennes (9 saves) have recorded more saves in a single Ligue 1 match. Even when Safonov was beaten, the woodwork came to his rescue in the 74th minute. “We came up against a truly great goalkeeper tonight,” conceded Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré after the match, visibly disheartened by his opponent’s performance.