Lille WIN Ligue 1 after beating Angers in final day drama

Lille are champions of Ligue 1! Christophe Galtier’s underdogs clinch title after beating Angers in final day drama with Jonathan David and Burak Yilmaz on target… as giants PSG are forced to settle for second spot despite victory over Brest

The foul weather whipped across the pitch in Brest and set the scene for one of the most dramatic final days in Ligue 1 in the last 20 years. 

It initially looked like PSG would not warm-up outside, owing to the dreadful conditions, but eventually they traipsed out to prepare for their own showdown. In alien fashion for them, they emerged with their fate lying elsewhere.

At the end of the evening, they were not quite blown away – but the trophy was wrestled away from their clutches by table toppers Lille. They were hungry from the off against Angers, and are deserved champions.

Christophe Galtier’s arrival at Lille in 2017 saw them become one of the top-flight’s most competitive teams, but the sheer size of the achievement will take time to sink in. A league dominated by one team has been won, deservedly, by another. 

To put it into context, Lille’s budget is dwarfed by the financial might of PSG. The budget at the Parc des Prince is easily over four times the size of the new kings. 

They have defied the odds, quite simply. With three teams, including Monaco, still able to finish in top spot, the pressure was well and truly on. 

You would never have guessed it, though. Their sights may have wavered slightly last week in the draw with Saint-Etienne, but this time around they were emphatic. 

They may have players leaving this summer, and this was also Galtier’s last game in the hotseat. But despite all the sheer uncertainty, they scored after 10 minutes. After that, there was never any stopping them. 

Jonathan David struck first after Renato Sanches’ inch-perfect pass. With the ball at his feet, it would have been easy to be consumed by nerves. However, in clinical fashion, the striker rolled home. 

Over in Brest, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was made aware of the update. PSG’s kingdom was in danger of crumbling. Then there was another twist, as there always is. The giants were awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Neymar. With a resigned sigh, the Lille faithful would have expected the superstar to blast home. Instead, he missed the target completely. 

It was a jaw-dropping moment, and as Neymar turned away, Lille took a step closer.

Of course, it was never going to be that simple for the underdogs. PSG did get their goal, albeit in the most bizarre fashion imaginable.

Angel di Maria, the man who won the spot-kick from which Neymar horribly skewed wide, looked to whip a corner into a crowded box. In the end, his delivery clipped off the first man, Romain Faivre, and dropped into the far corner. 

The question then was how Lille would respond. In their typical style, was the answer. David broke through on goal and danced his way around goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni. An outstretched and desperate hand brought him down.

A penalty was given, and from 12 yards, Burak Yilmaz slotted home. One hand on the trophy. 

It could have been even more of a procession for Lille. With two goals in their back pocket, they went in search of another and really should have found it. A lovely move teed up Sanches, who, in contrast to his silky form, blazed horribly off target.

PSG, knowing that their crown was slowly but surely slipping away, looked to do their bit. Kylian Mbappe scored the second, profiting from a block to skip around and tap into an empty net.

His goal, and his electric form throughout this campaign, would be in vain.  

And it would stay that way. Lille took the victory and PSG, despite doing their bit, were left to settle for second.  

Angers halved the deficit deep inside stoppage-time, Angelo Fulgini planting one beyond Mike Maignan. But it didn’t matter, with the celebrations having already burst into life on the Lille bench.

In the other game, just like Neymar’s stuttering run before his squandered penalty, PSG’s title bid coughed, spluttered and then faded away.

It was magnificent Lille who saw to that. They face up to a summer of upheaval, there is no doubting that, but for now they will revel in the moment.

Nobody can begrudge them of that. 

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