PLAYER RATINGS | Strasbourg 1-1 PSG: Lionel Messi scores to clinch league title

PSG’s record-breaking 11th league title will have been won in a manner that has encapsulated a disappointing second half of the campaign – individual displays securing the bare minimum in the midst of a disjointed display. 

Strasbourg, who only needed a point to secure their Ligue 1 status, would keep the visitors at bay throughout the first half. Penalty shouts at both ends – both involving PSG’s young defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu – were waved away on the half hour mark.  The best chance of the half would then come to the Alastians’ striker Habib Diallo, who hit the post with a powerful shot from range – not the first time the Senegal international had troubled Gianluigi Donnarumma.

As has often been the case this season, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi combined for PSG’s eventual breakthrough on the hour mark. The France captain would bring a lofted ball down with disarming ease, before finding the departing Argentine in the middle, the veteran then finishing the move off from a tight angle for his 16th goal of the season. The celebrations, though, would be dampened by a familiar face as Kevin Gameiro scored from close range for his final home match for Strasbourg.

With Auxerre and Nantes failing to win elsewhere, Frédéric Antonetti had officially completed the task he’d been entrusted with mid-season by keeping the Alsatians up. At the other end of the table, Christophe Galtier’s achievements this season do not have the same resonance.

PSG player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma, 7 – The Italian was put to work by Habib Diallo several times in the first half, but held firm. Somewhat untroubled after the break – Strasbourg’s equaliser was preceded by a great save from a Sanson shot, but Gameiro was on hand to finish from close range.

Warren Zaïre-Emery, 6

Danilo Pereira, 5

Sergio Ramos, 5

El Chadaille Bitshiabu, 3

Juan Bernat, 4

Marco Verratti, 5

Renato Sanches, 6

Vitinha, 6

Lionel Messi, 6 – Scored the title-winning goal on an otherwise quiet night – although he almost added an assist ten minutes later with a great through ball for Mbappé, who was unable to convert. Now on 16 goals and 16 assists for the campaign.

Kylian Mbappé, 5  

Strasbourg player ratings

Matz Sels, 6

Lucas Perrin, 6

Ismaël Doukouré, 6

Gerzino Nyamsi, 6

Colin Dagba, 4

Ibrahima Sissoko, 5

Morgan Sanson, 5

Frédéric Guilbert, 5

Habib Diarra, 5

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, 5

Habib Diallo, 6 – Almost added to his 20 goals this season with a pair of chances in the first half – included one that hit the post and had Donnarumma beaten. A difficult presence for the PSG defence to handle.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin