A Comeback Victory on the Road
Paris Saint-Germain continued their impressive title charge with a 6-1 thrashing of Saint Etienne on Saturday, moving to within touching distance of an 11th French title in 13 seasons. Despite falling behind early—Saint Etienne opened the scoring in the ninth minute via a Lucas Stassin header—the visitors mounted a spirited comeback. Goncalo Ramos equalised from the penalty spot just before half-time after being tripped in the box by Florian Tardieu. The clinical performance in the second half saw PSG take control, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia launching a decisive counter-attack from midfield that set the tone for the rest of the match.
The Road to Glory and the Monaco Factor
Manager Luis Enrique, who has successfully molded a formidable young side since Kylian Mbappe’s departure last summer, hinted that PSG could have clinched the Ligue 1 title with seven games remaining—if not for Monaco’s intervention. In their final match of the day, Monaco secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Nice, courtesy of Breel Embolo’s 73rd-minute goal. This late strike left Monaco 21 points adrift of PSG, delaying the champions’ title celebration by at least another weekend. “I would like that Nice and Monaco don’t draw so that we can celebrate the title at the Parc des Princes,” Enrique remarked, underscoring his desire for a home celebration.
Clinical Execution and Late Flourishes
As PSG responded to the early setback, they found their rhythm in the second half. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s interception and decisive finish set in motion a cascade of goals. Desire Doue added a brace on either side of a goal from Joao Neves, and substitute Ibrahim Mbaye capped the rout by side-footing home from Bradley Barcola’s cross. With the match firmly in hand, PSG demonstrated both their attacking prowess and tactical discipline—a reminder of why they remain the league’s dominant force.
High Stakes and the Title Chase
The win over Saint Etienne brings PSG tantalizingly close to the top of the Ligue 1 table. However, the fate of the title race will ultimately be decided by other key fixtures. With Marseille faltering at Reims, the pressure now shifts to Monaco and Nice. PSG’s manager Luis Enrique remains focused on maintaining momentum and building on this victory, even as the clock ticks down on the season. “We have been champions for several weeks, and while winning the league due to other results would have no importance, we still aim to win it the right way—on the pitch, in front of our home fans,” he added.
