By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Paris St Germain (PSG) were crowned Ligue 1 champions for a record-extending 12th time on Sunday, as their third straight title was wrapped up following another dominant domestic campaign when second-placed AS Monaco lost 3-2 at Olympique Lyonnais.
PSG are 12 points clear and cannot be caught with just three games remaining.
Malick Fofana scored the winner for Lyon on Sunday, with the 19-year-old slotting home from close range late on.
PSG had the chance to seal the title with victory on Saturday but could only manage a draw against relegation-threatened Le Harve.
Monaco were the only side left who could prevent PSG lifting the title, but their faint hopes were extinguished in Lyon as they fell to their first defeat in nine games, despite taking an early lead.
“Winning the league is fantastic, but winning Ligue 1 for the twelfth time is even more special for everyone connected to Paris Saint-Germain,” PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on the club website.
“We’re going to enjoy this moment as a family. And also keep working hard, game after game, until the last moment of the season.”
It is PSG’s 12th Ligue 1 title and their 10th in the past 11 years.
After Saturday’s draw which kept the champagne on ice, Enrique was unconcerned, safe in the knowledge that their far superior goal difference meant the title was all but assured.
“We’re champions. I don’t care if there’s a party or not,” the coach said.
“We have a goal difference of plus 29 on the second place, I already feel like champions. Even if we don’t score any more points, we’ll be champions.”
The Spaniard, who took over at PSG at the end of last season, was proved right, as they secured their 10th title in 12 seasons without having to play another game.
The champions have suffered just one league defeat this season, against Nice in September and while they made a slow start to their campaign, once they took top spot after matchday 12, they never looked back.
Luis Enrique’s side will now turn their attentions to winning the club’s first Champions League trophy. They face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals next month.