The Ligue 1 title beckons to triple pursuers PSG

Paris Saint-Germain can take the first step towards a potential treble on Saturday as they secure a record-equalling 12th French league title with a home win against Le Havre with three games to go.

Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe both scored twice as PSG cruised to a 4-1 win at Lorient on Wednesday, but Monaco's 1-0 victory over Lille delayed the party for Luis Enrique's side for at least a few days.

“We hope that tomorrow will be a special day,” Luis Enrique said on Friday. “It’s nicer to win (at home) than to hope that another team loses.”

For PSG it would be their 10th Ligue 1 title in the last 12 seasons since the start of the Qatar era that transformed French football.

In fact, things could get even better for the champions-elect, with the upcoming Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund and the French Cup final against Lyon next month offering the chance of a treble.

“We are in a great time and have almost all the players available. The fans are happy and it is a very positive end to the season,” Luis Enrique told reporters.

“I will continue the same way by changing players. Why should I change? What changes is that if we win tomorrow we are officially champions and to do that in front of our fans is perfect.”

PSG are unbeaten in 25 league games since their only defeat this season, the home defeat against Nice in September.

“We are a more mature team now. But this is part of a process, PSG has changed a lot of things since the summer,” said Luis Enrique.

“It is a building phase, we will see what we have achieved at the end of the campaign. And I am convinced that we will be even better next year.”

Le Havre, on the other hand, risk an immediate return to the second division after a terrible 2024 and a run in which they won just once in 12 games and barely scored any goals.

Monaco are on course to finish second after five wins in the last six years, while Brest now hold on to the third automatic Champions League qualifying spot after consecutive defeats.

Lille are a point behind Brest, who travel to Breton rivals Rennes on Sunday, while Nice are also not entirely out of contention for a place in the top three despite a challenging second half of the season.

Marseille, winless in five domestic games, is preparing for the Europa League semi-final first leg against Atalanta with a visit to Lens.

One to keep an eye on: Georges Mikautadze

After joining Ajax in August, the French-born Georgian international returned to Metz on loan this winter after a difficult few months with the struggling Dutch giants.

As Metz battles against relegation, Mikautadze, Ligue 2's top scorer with 23 goals last season, has found that form again in the top flight to steer his club to safety.

The 23-year-old has scored five goals in his last three games – including wins over Lens and Le Havre – and is up to 10 goals in 16 appearances, scoring in two of his three games before his move in late summer.

Important statistics

43 – Kylian Mbappe has set a new career best after scoring 43 goals in all competitions this season. However, he is still on seven of the 33 goals he scored in the league in 2018/19.

26 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goal tally for Marseille this season has only been bettered this century by Didier Drogba, who scored 32 goals in his only season at the Velodrome in 2003/04.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Montpellier vs. Nantes (1900)

Saturday

Paris Saint-Germain vs Le Havre (1900)

Sunday

Metz against Lille (1100), Clermont against Reims, Lorient against Toulouse, Strasbourg against Nice (all 1300), Rennes against Brest (1505), Lyon against Monaco (1700), Marseille against Lens (1900)

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