PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 0-2 PSG: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike clinches league title | OneFootball

Ligue 1, Round 29 (postponed), 13/05/2026

Paris Saint-Germain secured the Ligue 1 title on Wednesday night with a hard-fought win over their season-long rivals Lens. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s first-half strike was enough to seal the win in the postponed Matchday 29 fixture.

The match

The clash between Ligue 1’s top two teams would have had more at stake had it been played a few weeks ago, when it was initially scheduled.

Even though both teams involved also had already turned their attention towards their respective cup finals, Wednesday evening’s match between Lens and Paris Saint-Germain would at least offer a conclusive ending to one of the closest Ligue 1 title races in recent seasons.

For the visitors, avoiding defeat would be enough to seal their 14th league title. Lens, meanwhile, could offer a glimmer of suspense ahead of the final day next Sunday with a decisive win for their final home match of the campaign.

As expected, the visitors dominated proceedings early on, having fielded a full-strength attack. Lens nevertheless looked to press the league leaders high up the pitch, picking up the ball several times in the final third on several occasions.

The main threat, as has often been the case this season, came from Matthieu Udol’s crosses, notably coming close to nodding in a ball from the French full-back early on in the half. The first shot on target came from Odsonne Édouard, who could only direct his close-range shot straight into Matvey Safonov’s hands.

Luis Enrique’s men eventually found a way through midway through the half, silencing an ebullient Stade Bollaert which had carried their team through a fifteen-minute flurry of chances. It was Ousmane Dembélé, having picked the ball out of Malang Sarr’s pocket, who played Khvicha Kvaratskhelia through on goal for a one-on-one with Robin Risser. The Georgian duly beat the World Cup hopeful with a deft finish for his tenth goal in twelve appearances. 

Safonov, who had already made a string of saves late in the first half, was called into action straight away after the break, parrying a powerful shot from Sima. Lens’ fortunes going forward were no better once Florian Thauvin and Allan Saint-Maximin were brought on by the hour mark, as the Russian safely captured cross after cross. 

The rest of the match followed a similar pattern, with chances for PSG few and far between in the final half hour. Sima finally beat the away goalkeeper with fifteen minutes remaining, but his shot reboundedd off the post. 

In the final ten minutes, a first-time Sangaré shot from an Udol cross was blocked by Safonov, before Thauvin saw a goal ruled out for a clear offside. An emphatic finish into the top-right corner from Ibrahim Mbaye, finishing off a counter-attack led by Désiré Doué, sealed the three points.

Despite an anticlimactic end to their title charge, Lens will still have a chance to win silverware in next week’s Coupe de France final against Nice. In any case, the players will have turned in a spirited, albeit clumsy, performance for their final match in front of their home fans. 

Paris Saint-Germain player ratings

Matvey Safonov, 9 – The 27-year-old made an impressive eight saves across the match, notably steadying the ship when Lens looked strongest midway through the first half. 

Senny Mayulu, 6

Ilya Zabarnyi, 8 – The Ukrainian turned in what was arguably his best performance yet in a PSG shirt, with his authoritative presence stabilising an otherwise shaky defence. He made several last-ditch tackles and notably headed away a goal-bound Thomasson effort, allowing Safonov to gather safely. 

Lucas Beraldo, 6

Lucas Hernandez, 6

Désiré Doué, 6

João Neves, 6

Dro Fernández, 5

Bradley Barcola, 5

Ousmane Dembélé, 6

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 7

Selected Lens player ratings

Robin Risser, 6

Malang Sarr, 3 – The French defender has been one of the standout players of Lens’ campaign, but struggled for solidity against the first-choice PSG attack. The former Chelsea man missed a couple of tackles and, most importantly, gave the ball away to Ousmane Dembélé for the Frenchman to play through Kvaratskhelia for the opening goal.

Mamadou Sangaré, 7

Adrien Thomasson, 5

Matthieu Udol, 5

Abdallah Sima, 5 – The most industrious of the Lens forwards, 

Odsonne Édouard, 4

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from Lens