With a convincing 1-0 win over Brest last weekend, Paris Saint-Germain are virtually guaranteed to lift the Ligue 1 trophy, even if they slip up against their runners-up in the rescheduled match from matchday 29 in Lens on Wednesday. The Parisians now have a six-point lead and a 15-goal goal difference, making the outcome of the championship all but certain.

PSG’s top priority is now the Champions League final

Luis Enrique’s men are already looking beyond the league title, with their sights firmly set on the Champions League final on 30 May. The coach stressed that his focus is on managing the players’ fitness ahead of the clash with Arsenal in London. “My top priority is to arrive at the final in the best possible physical, mental, individual and collective shape,” Enrique stated in his post-match press conference. This means carefully handling the workload of key players like Fabian Ruiz and Marquinhos, who are already showing signs of fatigue after their recent exertions.

Managing player fatigue

In Munich, eight of the eleven starters in the second leg against Bayern Munich had played fewer than 1,350 minutes in Ligue 1 this season. Luis Enrique is renowned for his meticulous approach to player management, and he is unlikely to field his strongest side against Lens, despite the match offering a chance to test tactics ahead of the Champions League final. “The most important thing for me is to manage and analyse each player’s individual workload to ensure they arrive at the Champions League final in the best possible condition,” he explained.

“We’ll be competitive against Lens and Paris FC, but our goal is the 30 May match.”

— Luis Enrique, PSG manager

Lens set to adopt a pragmatic approach

RC Lens, currently second in the table, have already accepted that they won’t be able to overhaul the Parisians. “We tried to push them to their limits, but we missed a few turns in our season, which was far from perfect,” admitted coach Pierre Sage. Lens are now turning their attention to the Coupe de France final against Nice, after beating Nantes 1-0 in their last match. Sage’s pragmatic approach contrasts with the intensity of his team’s challenge earlier in the season, but he remains hopeful about their cup prospects.

PSG’s squad rotation strategy

Luis Enrique is also using the match against Lens as an opportunity to experiment with new tactical setups. Lucas Beraldo, who has been deployed as a defensive midfielder for the past month, is expected to continue in this role, while 19-year-old Senny Mayulu has impressed at right-back. “To play as a full-back at PSG, you need to have stamina. Senny Mayulu has shown he can contribute both offensively and defensively, and he could be a credible alternative to Warren Zaïre-Emery if Achraf Hakimi isn’t fit in time for the final,” Enrique analysed.

Mayulu’s performances have convinced Enrique that he could be a viable option at right-back, especially if Hakimi is still recovering from injury by the time the Champions League final comes around. The coach also praised Warren Zaïre-Emery’s stamina as a key attribute for the position.

Lens’ focus shifts to the Coupe de France

Meanwhile, Lens are already looking ahead to their final against Nice in the Coupe de France, having secured their place in the showpiece match. Sage’s team are now aiming to add another trophy to their collection, despite their disappointment at missing out on the league title. “The second-place finish is confirmed; now we need the Coupe de France,” Sage stated after the victory over Nantes.