PSG wins 10th league title amid disappointing atmosphere
Amid Champions League exit disappointment, PSG wins their 10th French league triumph with an invincible 16-point lead and four matches remaining.
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Lionel Messi during PSG's match against Lens
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured Saturday a 10th Ligue 1 title, equalizing their number of league trophies with Saint-Etienne, despite a disappointing 1-1 draw against Lens.
Argentine star Lionel Messi seemed to have scored a fine winner in the 68th minute, but Lens diminished the already muted title party at the Parc des Princes stadium through Corentin Jean's equalizer with two minutes left.
The final whistle brought bizarre scenes, with the Lens players celebrating and PSG's newly-crowned champions looking uncomfortable.
PSG have an invincible 16-point lead over second-placed Marseille with four matches remaining.
"The atmosphere is a shame"
"The atmosphere is a shame," team captain Marquinhos told Canal+.
"Football is our passion, we started very young. We'll try to have as much fun as possible. It's a shame that won't be with the supporters but we have to deal with it," the Brazilian expressed.
This is PSG's eighth Ligue 1 triumph in the last 10 seasons, powered by the investment of their Qatari owners.
This season will still be seen as a failure for PSG, though, after collapsing to a dramatic loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League and after also suffering a surprise French Cup loss to Nice.
All eyes on Kylian Mbappe
On Saturday, an inevitable league title was confirmed in a strangely non-celebratory atmosphere in Paris, with some fans leaving the stadium early in protest of the Champions League exit.
"That's something I don't understand," said midfielder Marco Verratti. "I know that they were disappointed about Madrid, but at some point, you have to move on," he considered.
Attention in Paris will now turn to the future of Kylian Mbappe, with the star still to decide whether to stay at PSG or leave for Real Madrid before next season.
