Paris Saint-Germain were confirmed as Ligue 1 champions on Sunday without playing after their nearest challenger, Monaco, lost 3-2 away to Lyon.
Monaco’s defeat gave PSG an unassailable 12-point lead at the top of the table with three matches remaining and means they are French champions for the 12th time, a French record.
PSG could have clinched the title on Saturday with a home win over struggling Le Havre, but ultimately needed an equalizer in the 95th minute to secure a 3-3 draw.
However, after that match, coach Luis Enrique insisted his team had won the championship “without a doubt”, as they were 12 points ahead with just 12 points to play, and had also a goal difference much greater than that of Monaco.
The defeat of the principality club in Lyon nevertheless formalizes PSG’s coronation and prepares PSG for the semi-final first leg of the Champions League on Wednesday against Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
Monaco had taken the lead in the first minute in Lyon thanks to a Wissam Ben Yedder goal, but Alexandre Lacazette equalized for the hosts and Said Benrahma gave them the lead before the half-hour mark.
Ben Yedder struck again to make it 2-2, but substitute Malick Fofana scored a winner for Lyon, who are still hoping to qualify for Europe.
PSG have won 10 of their 12 titles in the last 12 seasons, a record that shows how Qatar’s takeover of the club in 2011 completely transformed it and the face of French football as a whole.
They are on track to win a large number of trophies this season, with the Coupe de France final against Lyon on May 25 and the French Champions Trophy already in their pocket.
Luis Enrique’s side also hope to defeat Dortmund and qualify for the Champions League final on June 1.
Brest wins nine-goal thriller
Elsewhere, Brest took another big step towards their first Champions League qualification by scoring deep into injury time to beat Rennes 5-4 in an incredible match.
Former Rennes defender Lilian Brassier scored the decisive goal after six minutes of stoppage time to decide the Breton derby in favor of Brest.
They were 2-0 down nine minutes after Arnaud Kalimuendo scored twice for the home side at Roazhon Park, but quickly pulled one back through Steve Mounie then equalized just after the break via an own goal by Warmed Omari.
Uruguayan striker Martin Satriano put Brest ahead and Mahdi Camara made it 4-2, seemingly winning the points.
However, Arthur Theate and Martin Terrier both scored to bring Rennes level, seemingly securing them a valuable point in the fight for European qualification before Brassier struck.
It’s a huge three points for Brest after losing their previous two matches, and the win sees them finish the weekend in third place, two points behind Monaco and one point ahead of winners Lille 2-1 in Metz.
This result also means that Brest are now guaranteed European football next season for the first time in their history.
“Last season, we ensured our survival with three matches remaining. Today we are qualified for Europe. It’s remarkable,” declared Brest coach Eric Roy.
The top three teams in Ligue 1 automatically qualify for next season’s expanded Champions League, with the fourth-placed team entering the competition in the preliminary rounds.
Ismaily and Yusuf Yazici scored Lille’s goals as they came from behind to take all three points after Georges Mikautadze put Metz ahead from the penalty spot.
Nice strengthened its fifth place by winning 3-1 at Patrick Vieira’s Strasbourg.
The French Riviera club remain four points behind Lille, meaning Champions League qualification appears to be beyond them.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 27th goal of the season and Pape Gueye scored a late winner as Marseille beat Lens 2-1 to move up to seventh.
Lorient remain in the automatic relegation places and three points from safety after a 2-1 home defeat to Toulouse.
Clermont are still last but are just four points from safety with three matches remaining after beating Reims 4-1, with Austrian international Muhammed Cham scoring two penalties and Elbasan Rashani also scoring twice.
