The Ligue 1 title race changed dramatically overnight as Paris Saint-Germain lost, and Lens secured a 5-goal victory to overtake PSG by 1 point at the top.

Ligue 1 was once seen as the most open title race among the five major leagues, yet PSG has been overwhelmingly dominant, housing the top ten highest-paid players and being last season’s treble winners. Still, this season their league form has been unstable. After 22 matches, it’s Lens, not PSG, leading the table, which might astonish you! This happened because PSG suffered another shocking defeat in round 22, while Lens won 5-0 to claim the top spot.

In the 22nd round of Ligue 1, PSG played first and suffered a 1-3 away loss to Rennes. Several PSG players, including Draxler, João Neves, new signing Zabarny, and goalkeeper Safonov, were off their game. Dembélé scored the only goal for PSG, but the 1-3 defeat ended their seven-game winning streak in the league and marked the biggest upset of the round.

Meanwhile, second-placed Lens thrashed Paris FC 5-0 away, overtaking PSG by one point to reach the summit of the Ligue 1 standings. Lens continues to be the surprise title contender this season, maintaining their role as a formidable dark horse in the league.

Managing a top club is challenging. PSG, under Enrique, won six titles this season, falling short only in the Club World Cup final, and secured all other trophies including the club’s first-ever Champions League title. The squad is filled with decorated players, and with Ligue 1 lacking strong competition, it’s natural for the coaching staff and players to desire bigger stages. A great coach not only wins titles but also keeps the squad hungry and motivated to pursue further honors. Enrique still needs to strengthen this aspect, and perhaps his ambitions are already turning towards the English Premier League.