The status of Paris Saint-Germain is undeniably that of a champion, with coach Luis Enrique himself declaring them “99.9% champions” as they prepared for their away game against second-placed Lens on Wednesday, May 13. Holding a six-point lead and a significant fifteen-goal difference with only two matches remaining, the outcome of the league title race is virtually sealed, even if the Parisians were to suffer a defeat at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
This lack of real suspense in the domestic league suits the Parisian manager perfectly, whose sights are firmly set on a singular objective: “Arriving in the best physical, mental, individual, and collective conditions for the May 30 match,” which is the Champions League final against Arsenal. This strategy involves carefully managing the minor injuries of key players, rotating others to provide rest, and ensuring all squad members are in prime match rhythm.
Optimizing player workload
During the return leg of the semi-final in Munich, eight of PSG’s starting eleven had accumulated fewer than 1,350 minutes in Ligue 1 this season (equivalent to 16 full matches across 31 league fixtures). Consistent with his meticulous approach to player fitness, Luis Enrique has been open about not necessarily deploying his strongest line-up against their closest domestic rivals, even though Lens presents a high-calibre opponent for a final dress rehearsal. The former Spain national team coach emphasized the importance of “managing and individually analyzing the minute load to arrive at the Champions League final in the best conditions” following their 1-0 victory over Brest on Sunday.
“We are confident we will be competitive against both Lens and Paris FC, but our ultimate focus remains the May 30 final.”
The players echo this sentiment. Désiré Doué, who secured the win against Brest, remarked, “Lens is a strong team, but I believe it bears no resemblance to a Champions League final; that’s an entirely different challenge. No match we’ve played this season will be quite like it.” Doué, the standout player from the previous Champions League final, along with his attacking counterparts, was rested against Brest. However, players like Fabian Ruiz and Marquinhos, who featured in both Sunday’s league match and the Munich semi-final, might be given a break, unless the coach deems it necessary for the Spanish midfielder to regain match sharpness.
Validating tactical adjustments
The coaching staff may also use this opportunity to further validate recent tactical experiments. Lucas Beraldo’s deployment as a defensive midfielder over the past month in Ligue 1, a role he also stepped into during the final quarter of matches against Liverpool and Munich, appears to be a confirmed strategy. Similarly, Senny Mayulu’s performance on the right defensive flank has already shown promise.
Luis Enrique commented on Mayulu’s suitability for the role: “To play full-back for Paris Saint-Germain, the first quality you need is an engine. Hakimi has it, Warren [Zaïre-Emery] has it. Senny Mayulu also possesses that drive, which is crucial. Beyond that, his quality is evident; he has demonstrated both offensive and defensive capabilities.” Having impressed in this position against Lorient and Brest, the 19-year-old academy product could prove, against more formidable opposition, to be a reliable alternative to Warren Zaïre-Emery if Achraf Hakimi is not fully recovered for the final.
![Senny Mayulu lors du match du PSG contre Brest, le 10 mai 2026 au Parc des Princes à Paris. (JEAN CATUFFE / AFP)](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0%200%20720%20404.93788207454%22%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Even the Lens camp no longer views this as a true title decider, a match that could have been pivotal had it not been rescheduled by the league at PSG’s request and despite Lens’s initial objection. Coach Pierre Sage stated, “Second place is secured; now we need the Coupe de France,” indicating his focus had shifted to the final against Nice after their 1-0 win against FC Nantes on matchday 33. Before PSG’s victory against Brest, the Sang et Or coach had already given up hope of overtaking the Parisians. He conceded, “We tried to push them to their limits, but we missed a few turns in our imperfect season. To surpass them, you need a perfect season.” He then ventured a prediction not just for Ligue 1, but also for the Champions League: “Congratulations to them; they have won another title and surely a second Champions League.”
