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Lionel Messi gives PSG the lead against Strasbourg.
Lionel Messi gives PSG the lead against Strasbourg. Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images
Lionel Messi gives PSG the lead against Strasbourg. Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images

European roundup: Messi on target as PSG clinch a record 11th Ligue 1 title

This article is more than 9 months old
  • Draw against Strasbourg enough to seal top spot ahead of Lens
  • Internazionale up to second in Serie A with win over Atalanta

Lionel Messi scored as Paris Saint Germain bagged a record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 title with one game to spare with a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg.

The result put PSG on 85 points, four ahead of Lens, who secured second place and a place in next season’s Champions League – a first in 21 years – with a 3-0 hammering of Ajaccio.

It means Messi has become the joint-most decorated player in football with 43 trophies, alongside Dani Alves.

PSG were disappointing until Messi opened the scoring with a right-foot effort into the top corner after collecting Kylian Mbappé’s pass in the area. Strasbourg wasted numerous chances to level until Kevin Gameiro struck with 11 minutes to go.

“Everything was not perfect, but this title belongs to the players. Being French champions is always something,” said coach Christophe Galtier. “From a personal point of view I appreciate it a lot.”

Asked about his future at the club after one season in charge, Galtier said: “I’ve been reading a lot of things here and there but there is a difference between what’s being written and what’s happening.”

Lens secured their Champions League place as Loïs Openda became the club’s top scorer in the top flight with 20 goals – level with Roger Boli who reached that tally in the 1993-94 season. Openda scored the third goal with a penalty after Deiver Machado and Adrien Thomasson had put the hosts ahead in the first half.

“It puts me right up there with a club legend, I’m so happy,” said the Belgium striker Openda.

Marseille will finish third despite a 2-1 home defeat by Brest.

Lille lead the race for fourth place –and a Europa League spot – after a couple of Jonathan David penalties gave them a 2-1 home win against relegation-threatened Nantes. Rennes leapfrogged Monaco into fifth with a 2-0 victory against the principality side.

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Troyes, Ajaccio and Angers are already relegated and will be joined in Ligue 2 either by Auxerre or Nantes. Nantes trail Auxerre by two points before hosting bottom side Angers while Auxerre entertain Lens.

In Serie A, Internazionale scored twice inside the opening four minutes but had to fight to beat Atalanta 3-2 at home and secure a top-four finish.

Simone Inzaghi’s side are second in the standings with 69 points, eight ahead of Atalanta, who occupy fifth place with only one game remaining for both. Inter made an explosive start, with Romelu Lukaku scoring after 39 seconds. Nicolo Barella doubled the lead barely two minutes later by firing in a rebound from Federico Dimarco’s effort. Mario Pasalic reduced the score after 36 minutes. Lautaro Martinez scored from close range 13 minutes from time to put Inter 3-1 up and even though the visitors pulled one back in stoppage time, the Champions League finalists held on for the win.

Roma suffered a late collapse to lose 2-1 to Fiorentina, ending any hopes José Mourinho’s side had of a top-four finish. Roma are sixth, four points behindMilan in fourth, who face Juventus on Sunday.

Stephan El Shaarawy gave Roma the lead 11 minutes into the game, striking from close range. The hosts came alive near the end, with Luka Jovic equalising in the 85th minute before French forward Jonathan Ikoné sent the stadium into a frenzy three minutes later with a finish from close range.

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Spezia remain in danger of relegation after they went down 4-0 at home to Torino while Salernitana fought back from 2-0 down to beat Udinese 3-2 thanks to a winner by William Troost-Ekong in added time.

In La Liga, Rodrygo scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 at Sevilla. The result boosts Real’s hopes of finishing above city rivals Atletico in second place.

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