⚽️ ⚽️ Paris Saint-Germain ⚽️ ⚽️
What an inconsistent season for PSG.
At times, they looked incredibly dominant, and seemingly set to repeat as Ligue 1 champions. Hell, at times, they looked ready to win the UEFA championship, which would have established this club as Europe's best football club.
But at other times, they did not really look like themselves.
They wrapped up their up and down season today against Brest, while Ligue 1 leaders entering this final weekend Lille played Angers, and controlled their own destiny. If they beat Angers, they would be crowned as Ligue 1 champions for 2020-21.
Romain Faivre scored an Own Goal in the 37th minute. But it was enough to put PSG in front, 1-0.
That is how the game would remain all the way into the 81st minute, when superstar Kylian Mbappé got the follow-up goal, extending the lead to 2-0, and just about icing the game.
Indeed, that wound up being the final score, as PSG end this season's Ligue 1 play with another win. In all, they managed 82 points in the 38 games played.
However, Lille entered this weekend with a chance to clinch the Ligue 1 title with a win, which they managed to achieve in their game against Angers. That was enough for them to just edge out in the race for Ligue 1 supremacy, as they got 83 points in their 38 games played.
So, Lille are Ligue 1 champions, earning their first championship in 10 years.
As for PSG, their up and down season is over. They did win some championship hardware last week when they beat Monaco in the French Cup Final. And they actually had a significant Goals Differential advantage, at +58, to +41 for Lille. But it was not meant to be this season.
Monaco finished in third place with 78 points earned overall, while Lyon placed fourth with 76 points. After that, there is a wide margin to the fifth place team, Olympique Marseille, and beyond that. Nimes and Dijon were the bottom two teams, and have been relegated. Nantes will have to perform well enough during a relegation playoff to be back in Ligue 1 next year.
Lille hold off Paris St Germain to win Ligue 1 title PA Sport Staff Sun, May 23, 2021:
https://sports.yahoo.com/lille-hold-off-paris-st-213954864.html
How Lille defied the odds to stand on the brink of Ligue 1 title May 21, 2021 Tor-Kristian Karlsen:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/lille/story/4388042/how-lille-defied-the-odds-to-stand-on-the-brink-of-ligue-1-title
Although PSG's season wasn't disastrous by any means – they won 26 of 38 games in Ligue 1, made it to the semifinal round of the Champions League and won the Coupe de France – overall it was undeniably disappointing. With hindsight, the fact that they started the season with two straight losses – highly uncharacteristic on their part – looks like a harbinger of what was to come. Lille surpassed expectations, and Lyon and Monaco looked pretty good too, but PSG should have managed to finish first regardless. It will be interesting to see if either of their two biggest stars, Mbappé and Neymar, return next season. To be honest with you, I wouldn't mind seeing the latter go. He's an incredible talent, but he seems to lack character and maturity, plus his best days as a player might be behind him at this point anyway. It's been an odd Ligue 1 season, and the Red Bulls continue to be irrelevant in MLS. Luckily, there are other sports where my teams are faring better. Case in point: the Nets look poised to make a deep run in the NBA Playoffs.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, although I am not too sad that PSG did not win the title again this year. Also, like you, I am curious as to whether or not those two will still be with PSG, or will jump ship.
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