PSG ended one point ahead of Lens following the home loss to Clermont, which also served as Lionel Messi’s last match for the club.
On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe earned a record fifth consecutive French golden boot, while Rennes secured a Europa League ticket and Auxerre was demoted. Mbappe’s goal in a 3-2 loss to Clermont brought his league record to 29, tying him with French great Jean-Pierre Papin and retired Argentine forwards Carlos Bianchi and Delio Onnis for the top spot for the fifth time.
PSG and Lens qualified for the group stage of the Champions League next season, while Marseille advanced for the third qualifying round of the lucrative European championship. Rennes beat Brest 2-1 in the first half, thanks to first-half goals from Benjamin Bourigeaud, to overtake Lille into fourth position. Lille qualified for the Europa Conference League playoffs following a 1-1 tie with Troyes. Lille’s Bafode Diakite scored in the second half, and Troyes’ Rony Lopes equalised.
Monaco finished third the previous two seasons but missed out on European football after losing 2-1 to Toulouse. In stoppage time, Toulouse replacement Rhys Healey scored the game-winning goal. After 34 rounds, Monaco led Lille by five points and Rennes by eight points. Monaco, on the other hand, imploded during the run-in, collecting only one point from the last four games.
“Everyone is disappointed,” Monaco coach Philippe Clement said on Canal Plus. “The outcomes and level have been inadequate in recent weeks. Finally, I realise that everyone is staring at the coach.”
PSG ended one point behind Lens following a home loss to Clermont, which also served as Lionel Messi’s last match for the club. Before the game, fans booed Messi. PSG lead 2-0 following a header from Sergio Ramos and a penalty from Mbappe. Mbappe rejoiced by holding up a jersey with Sergio Rico’s name on it. Rico, PSG’s backup custodian, was critically injured after being attacked by a stray horse in Spain last Sunday.
Clermont equalised just before halftime, thanks to goals from Johan Gatien and Mehdi Zeffane. Grejohn Kyei scored the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute after converting a cross.
“We really needed to pay tribute to Sergio,” Mbappe said on Canal Plus. “I believe we are all affected.” It is an exceedingly serious scenario. That was on our minds all week. We will pray and send as many happy energies as we can so that he can get out of that predicament as soon as possible.”
Cameroonian striker Ignatius Ganago scored the lone goal in Nantes’ 1-0 triumph against Angers to keep the club in the top flight. Nantes broke a 14-game league losing drought to overtake Auxerre into 16th place. Auxerre was defeated 3-1 by Lens and will be relegated to the second level together with Angers, Ajaccio, and Troyes. Because the league will be reduced from 20 to 18 teams next season, four teams have been demoted. Alexis Claude-Maurice of Lens scored twice before Belgium international Lois Openda clinched the victory.
Clement Vidal scored in Ajaccio’s 1-0 victory over Marseille. Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette failed to score in a 3-1 loss to Nice, ending second in scoring with 27 goals.
“It’s flattering to be close to Kylian,” Lacazette stated. “I’d like to congratulate him on his season.” And I’m relieved because few people expected me to be able to do so upon my return to Lyon.”
Montpellier won 3-1 over Reims. Folarin Balogun of Reims scored a consolation goal to bring his season total to 21. Balogun, who was born in New York, played for England at the junior level before opting to play for the United States at the senior level in May.
Lorient also defeated Strasbourg 2-1.
