Paris Saint-Germain had completed the difficult task by defeating FC Lorient, and now all that remained was to wait and see if they would be crowned Ligue 1 champions for the twelfth time. The outcome could be decided later tonight depending on a draw or a defeat from AS Monaco, who were hosting Lille OSC.

Even the most pessimistic Parisian expected a victory against FC Lorient. Lorient, a team in the relegation zone, had not won a game in its last six matches. From the very beginning, it seemed inevitable that the league leaders would secure a win; the only question was when and by how many goals.

However, Lorient initially appeared to be the more dynamic side, while PSG fell into a monotonous passing rhythm that struggled to make progress into the final third. The hosts had the first few chances, with Imran Louza attacking down the right and setting up Ayman Kari, but the shot went wide, letting PSG off the hook.

As the game opened up, PSG began to find spaces to exploit, showcasing their superior quality. They won the ball in a scrappy play on the halfway line, with Gonçalo Ramos playing it forward to 17-year-old Senny Mayulu, who then released Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé glided past the static Lorient defense and calmly placed his shot into the corner, giving PSG the lead.

Lorient had little time to recover before PSG found the net again. It was a brilliant attack orchestrated by Kylian Mbappé. Starting in deeper positions, Mbappé initiated a move that he would eventually finish. Nuno Mendes surged into the space created by Mbappé’s movement, received the ball, and played it back to his captain. Mbappé displayed a touch of genius, allowing the ball to pass through his legs before guiding it home with a backheel flick.

Still, Lorient did not give up hope and continued to threaten the PSG goal. Tiémoué Bakayoko connected with a header, forcing Gianluigi to make a spectacular behind-his-back save.

PSG player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma, 6

Nuno Mendes, 7

Lucas Hernandez, 6

Milan Škriniar, 5 

Yoram Zague, 5

Fabián Ruiz, 6

Lee Kang-In, 7

Senny Mayulu, 6

Kylian Mbappé, 8—The forward has been accused of being unmotivated on occasion. This was anything but the case tonight. The captain was like a man possessed, constantly fighting for possession and flying into tackles as soon as the ball was lost. It was an excellent attacking display to match his unlikely defensive capabilities. 

Gonçalo Ramos, 7 – a convincing performance from the striker who could not manage to put his name on the scoresheet. He played an impressive role out of possession, and constantly looked to selflessly help his team. 

Ousmane Dembélé, 8 – A brace for the player who has been criticised for his inability to score. Dembélé was in fine form tonight to create a dangerous-looking attack.