Ligue 1 & European Highlights: PSG's Historic Champions League Triumph and Lens' Champions League Qualification

The 2024-2025 football season will be remembered especially for Paris Saint-Germain’s monumental achievement in European football. On 31 May 2025, the PSG squad etched their name into history by winning their first UEFA Champions League title emphatically, crushing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final hosted at Munich’s Allianz Arena. This overwhelming margin is the largest ever recorded in a Champions League final, illustrating the Parisian team's extraordinary form throughout the season.

PSG’s journey to glory was marked by a series of commanding performances, including a semi-final triumph over Arsenal. The final displayed their supremacy from the opening whistle, with Désiré Doué shining brightly and earning the Man of the Match award. Remarkably, Doué became the first player to be decisively influential three times in a Champions League final. The final scoreline of 5-0 not only secured the title but also represents the second-highest number of goals scored by a single team in the history of Champions League finals.

This victory brings significant sporting and financial rewards to PSG. Their triumph guarantees automatic qualification for the 2025-2026 Champions League group stage. Furthermore, PSG will compete for the UEFA Super Cup against the 2024-2025 Europa League winner, and also gain opportunities in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. The UEFA prize money associated with this campaign totals an impressive €148.4 million, adding to the €137.9 million secured prior to the final.

The celebrations across France were euphoric albeit marred by unfortunate incidents resulting in two fatalities and nearly 200 injuries. Nonetheless, the prevailing sentiment among supporters was one of immense pride and joy marking a historic pinnacle for the club and French football.

Turning to Ligue 1, the conclusion of the season brought significant developments as well. Lens, demonstrating remarkable resilience and youthful talent, sealed their qualification to the Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Nantes. The winning goal underscored Lens’ growing stature in French football, spearheaded by emerging stars like Mezian and Mesloub, with teenager Mesloub aged just 16 impressing as a neo-professional.

On the other side, Nantes’ defeat cemented their relegation to Ligue 2, ending a challenging campaign for the historic club. The official drop in division represents a stark contrast to Lens’ ascendancy and is a sobering moment for the Nantes faithful as they prepare to rebuild in the lower tier.

Meanwhile, the Euro 2025 Women’s Championship qualification rounds continued to highlight the continental depth and competitiveness of women’s football. On 16 July 2025, multiple decisive matches unfolded with notable outcomes in Ligue A, where Norway managed a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, and Italy dominated Finland 4-0. Spain, Denmark, Ireland, and Germany also recorded important results, though France suffered a significant 3-0 defeat against Ireland, tempering hopes for the host nation’s qualification campaign.

These qualifiers remain crucial as teams jostle for position to secure their places at the Euro 2025 finals, underscoring the vibrant growth and high stakes in women’s international football throughout Europe.