PSG alone in the world.
After their 2-0 victory in Nantes on Saturday, Luis Enrique's players have a comfortable lead in the Ligue 1 standings. They are at the head of a capital of 53 points at the end of the 22nd day.
Or 13 more than their new runners-up from Brest (40 pts).
Nice (39 pts) occupies the third step of the podium, ahead of Lille and Monaco (38 pts).
With still 36 points to distribute between now and the 38th and final day, the title is obviously not yet assured from a mathematical point of view.
Hence the caution displayed by Luis Enrique at La Beaujoire.
“The championship already won?
No, not at all
,” insists the Spanish coach, noting the risk of decompression in the weeks to come.
“We may lack motivation because we don't have a direct opponent to push us,”
he squeaks, assuring that it is
“due to (the) merits”
of the team and staff.
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
Ligue 1 ranking
Luis Enrique summed it up: PSG owes nothing to anyone regarding its own record.
With 53 points, the Rouge et Bleu are also within their usual passing times at this stage of the season, between 44 and 60 points on the clock on the 22nd day since the start of the Qatari era, including seven seasons at 50 points and more.
If they are so far ahead, however, it is also due to weak competition.
Already, the clubs which should tickle PSG are failing, to varying degrees, Monaco, Marseille and Lyon.
“This Nice team is going to annoy you a little this season
,” we said to Kylian Mbappé at the start of the year, on
Amazon Prime Video
.
"You think ?
I don’t think so, that’s my opinion
,” he smiled.
The Parisian striker was right.
PSG is now 13 steps ahead of... Brest.
This is less than in 2015-16, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Parisians had 21 points more than their Monegasque runners-up!
This is more than last season (12 points difference on the second) or the previous one (11).
It should be noted that the QSI version of PSG has always been crowned champion by appearing in the lead at this stage of the season, except in 2011-12, when Montpellier overturned the table at the end.
On the 22nd day, Carlo Ancelotti's PSG had three points more than President Nicollin's men (49 against 46).
Conversely, they have always ceded the title if they were not first on the 22nd day, in 2017 (Monaco) and 2021 (Lille), except in 2014-15.
Laurent Blanc's players were only third after 22 days during this campaign, with the same number of points as OM (44 pts) and four lengths behind the leader Lyon (48).
Read also PSG: sulking, scorer and applauded by the Nantes public, Mbappé's funny evening
The bad memory of Auxerre
Overall, sailing in the lead at this point in the season is obviously a good sign for the title.
It is not comprehensive insurance either.
Ask the Bordelais, leaders on the 22nd day in 2009-10 and who ultimately failed in… sixth place!
PSG also paid to see.
Leaders on the 22nd day with 46 points during the 1995-96 campaign, Luis Fernandez's players, future winners of the Cup of Cups, fell in the championship.
They finished third, behind AJ Auxerre and Lyon.
However, the AJA had 10 points less than the Parisians at the end of the 22nd trick (46 against 36).
Note, and this is important, that the first division was contested by 20 teams, compared to 18 today.
Clearly, there were more matches to play and more points to take.
Over the last 30 years, the AJA's crazy comeback against Paris represents a record.
It would be even stronger if Brest, Nice, Lille, Monaco Lens, Rennes or others were to undermine the politeness of the Parisian ogre, even if everything is theoretically possible and we know well that everything can quickly go downhill. irrational in Paris, especially in the event of a premature exit in the Champions League.
With a 2-0 first-leg victory against Real Sociedad, Mbappé and his comrades are, a priori, calm.
A priori… Return on March 5 to San Sebastian.
One thing is certain: by maintaining a gap of 13 points, Paris will be crowned against Lyon on the 30th day.
Or even before?