X

WORLD FOOTBALL

    PSG Named Ligue 1 Champions After Season Called off Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

    Tim Daniels@TimDanielsBRX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 30, 2020

    Paris-Saint-Germain players celebrate at the end of the French League One soccer match between Paris-Saint-Germain and Dijon, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
    Michel Euler/Associated Press

    France's Ligue de Football Professionnel announced Paris Saint-Germain as the 2019-20 Ligue 1 champions Thursday after the remainder of the season was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.   

    "Big sporting events will not be able to take place before September. The 2019-20 season, notably for football, will not be able to resume," French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Tuesday.

    PSG held a 12-point advantage over second-placed Marseille in the Ligue 1 table when play was halted on March 13.

    B/R Football @brfootball

    BREAKING: PSG are named French champions for the third year in a row following the cancellation of the Ligue 1 season https://t.co/rdNxkkEdrm

    It's the third straight Ligue 1 title for the Parisians and the seventh time they've finished atop the standings in the past eight years. The club now have nine top-flight championships, which is one behind Marseille and Saint-Etienne for the all-time record.

    PSG lost two of their first seven games to open the 2019-20 but were virtually unstoppable from that point forward. They ended the coronavirus-shortened campaign on a 15-match unbeaten streak.

    Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe tied Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder for the Ligue 1 lead with 18 goals during the term. The Parisians' Angel Di Maria had more assists (14) than anyone else in the league.

    Kylian Mbappé @KMbappe

    #TBT Everyone is talking, but nobody knows...👤 MISS MY TEAM ❤️💙... @PSG_inside https://t.co/OgPHnfXYeZ

    PSG Named Ligue 1 Champions After Season Called off Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
    Video Play Button
    ✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content Right Arrow Icon

    The French league's decision also throws the remainder of the Champions League campaign into serious question. Both PSG, who had clinched a quarter-final berth, and Lyon were still active in the UCL.

    Meanwhile, the LFP opted to move forward with promotion and relegation despite the early conclusion of the season in contrast to the Dutch Eredivisie, which cancelled the remainder of its term last week.

    Amiens and Toulouse will be relegated to Ligue 2 with Lorient and Lens promoted, although Amiens announced that they would be opening legal proceedings over their premature relegation from the top division. 

    PSG, Marseille and Rennes will claim the league's Champions League spots for next season.

    Bleacher Report's David Gardner interviews athletes and other sports figures for the podcast How to Survive Without Sports.