Even considering the usual off-field circus that follows Paris Saint-Germain every season, the second half of this Ligue 1 campaign has been one for the ages.
won league 1 eight times in the last ten seasons, you’d be correct to assume psg The league has already wrapped up. However, this is not the case, and there are many different reasons for this.
Off the pitch, players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Presnel Kimpembe, Achraf Hakimi and coach Christophe Gaultier are involved. On top of this, Gaultier was unable to get the best out of his incredibly talented group of players, with the team looking very unbalanced.
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With four games left to play, PSG have a six-point lead over second-placed Lens. They are definitely in a strong position and will need a lot of collapse to not retain their crown.
There are three teams that have a mathematical chance of winning Ligue 1 this season. Along with PSG, Lens and Marseille, who are six and eight points off the top, could still come first.
|
Situation |
Team |
games played |
goal difference |
Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
psg |
34 |
44 |
78 |
|
2 |
Lens |
34 |
31 |
72 |
|
3 |
marseille |
34 |
28 |
70 |
Given PSG’s better goal difference than Lens, the league can indeed be won as soon as this weekend. If PSG win, Lens lose and Marseille fail to win, PSG will have a nine-point lead with three games to play.
While it won’t be mathematically sealed, a huge goal swing would be needed for Les Parisiens not to win the league.
PSG’s remaining Ligue 1 fixtures
The other thing in PSG’s favor when it comes to clinching the title is that they only have games against teams in the bottom half of Ligue 1 to play.
remaining lig 1 fixtures of the lens
Lens have also got a fairly simple looking fixture list to navigate, although they do have some top-half teams. However, he would feel that all 12 points can be achieved.
Marseille’s remaining Ligue 1 fixtures
Marseille were recently beaten by Lens which ended any realistic chance of them winning Ligue 1, but they are in the hunt if they win their remaining games. Third place in Ligue 1 requires going through the Champions League qualifying round, so there is a huge incentive to try and finish second.
The main objective for Paris Saint-Germain when a new season starts is to win the Champions League, something they have never done before. Along with this, the coach must ensure that they win Ligue 1 by a comfortable margin, ideally winning the domestic cup as well.
In 2022/23, to PSG Champions League They were eliminated in the round of 16 by Bayern Munich and exited the Coupe de France at the same stage, having been beaten by Marseille.
Off the pitch, there have been a series of plays meant to distract the players from doing their job. At the beginning of the season there were differences between the fans and key players such as Presnel Kimpembe and later Neymar. recently about 100 fans gathered outside Neymar’s house He leaves the club to make demands.
It came as part of a demonstration by fans outside the club headquarters where they demanded the resignation of the board and the departure of Lionel Messi. The Argentine player had traveled to Saudi Arabia after he was denied permission and had missed training sessions.
He was suspended and fined by PSG but he the ban was lifted After Messi apologized in the form of an Instagram video.
A PSG supporter told french tv breakfast news: “There are so many things that make people think we can’t take it anymore. The game is non-existent.
Another said: “We have players who don’t fight for our colours, or respect the club.”
Gaultier is currently being investigated for racist comments from his time as head coach of OGC Nice. It is alleged that Gaultier said that his Nice team “could not have so many blacks and Muslims”. His lawyer says that Gaultier contests the charges “with the greatest vigour”.
The other off-field issue is that Achraf Hakimi was previously accused of rape in 2023, but the club has continued to use him in games.
Given the difference between the lens that PSG currently have, the return of Lionel Messi and the mediocre looking fixture list, it would be foolish to predict that PSG are not going to defend their crown.
It is clear that fans are extremely frustrated with the current direction and nature of the club and there could be a heat of change to come, whether they win the league or not.
Lens are in very strong form and could win the rest of their games, but it is likely that by matchday 36 or 37, PSG have wrapped up the league.