A closer look at how PSG won the French title without losing a game

PARIS (AP) — Unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain has won Ligue 1 in early April with six games to spare.

Only the 2016 PSG side has won the French league earlier.

Here's a closer look at how PSG clinched a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title under coach Luis Enrique, who was criticized at the start of the campaign because of the team's ineffective style of play.

Time and again, Kylian Mbappé bailed out PSG with late equalizers or winners during his final seasons with the club. For all of Mbappé’s undoubted ability and a club-record 256 goals, his heroics masked glaring deficiencies elsewhere.

The midfield was a bit soft and the defense often panicked under pressure in big games, with those factors leaving their goalkeeper too often exposed.

After Mbappé left for Real Madrid in the offseason, Luis Enrique had work to do.

He set things straight by saying Mbappé could not be replaced as a scorer and that results had to come through far better teamwork. He preferred to have several players chipping in regularly with goals, rather than spending another fortune on a superstar scorer who might also take time to settle in.

Young players such as 22-year-old Bradley Barcola, who has 18 goals this season, and 19-year-old Désiré Doué became symbols of a new-look PSG less dependant on big names.

Under Luis Enrique there has been no pampering of egos and preferential treatment for stars like in previous years when the likes of Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were overly indulged.

Luis Enrique proved that point with a bold decision to drop forward Ousmane Dembélé on disciplinary grounds for a big Champions League game at Arsenal.

PSG lost that game 2-0 but the Spanish coach, although sometimes perceived as stubborn, made it crystal clear he was looking for dedication in his squad and he was non-negotiable on this point.

He was unhappy with Dembélé’s level of commitment at the time. So rather than shy away and meekly acquiesce to player power like some of his predecessors, Luis Enrique stood by his decision and was eventually proved right as Dembélé's form soared.

Before this season, Dembélé was widely seen as a lightning-fast and skilful right winger who got into great scoring positions but was a wasteful finisher.

His previous season-best goal tally stood at a modest 14 in 48 games overall for Barcelona during the 2018-19 campaign, and he had only once reached double figures in the league with 12 for Rennes in 2015-16.

But a decisive tactical switch by Luis Enrique paid huge dividends. He released Dembélé from his restrictive role as a winger and played him through the middle in a roaming role which also allowed him to drift to the wings.

The result has been emphatic, with Dembélé topping the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 21 goals and 32 overall.

Luis Enrique succeeded in signing flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli at the second attempt after failing last year.

Even though PSG was moving away from the galactico era, there was still something missing in attack during an inconsistent first part of the season where PSG wasted chances galore.

Kvaratskhelia joined for 70 million euros ($72 million) and has added skill, goals, and assists. Kvaratskhelia's versatility also allowed Luis Enrique to deploy him on either wing and therefore enhance his attacking options.

Perhaps most crucially of all, the Georgia forward has a tremendous work ethic and has led by example by constantly tracking back to help out defenders.

Could there be a more unselfish team player than striker Gonçalo Ramos?

Many players of his scoring ability might sulk or complain about being on the bench.

But the Portugal forward's attitude has been irreproachable.

Furthermore, he has been clinical when given his chance and has contributed 14 goals in 30 games.

Doué joined PSG from Rennes for around 50 million euros ($55 million) in the offseason, which appeared a hefty fee for an unproven young player.

But Luis Enrique, who coached Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar when Barcelona won the Champions League in 2015, saw in him a game-changing ability.

His hunch was backed up by the fact Rennes has a proven ability to develop young players, with Dembélé also coming through the Brittany club's rich youth ranks a decade ago.

Doué has proved an overwhelmingly good signing with his ability to improvise in tight situations, his skilful touches and his runs from deep.

He has also contributed 11 goals and showed remarkably good composure against Liverpool in a high-octane Champions League round-of-16 game last month.

Four PSG players have scored 10 or more goals overall this season, twice as many as last season.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's Bradley Barcola walks on the pitch during the French League One soccer match between Saint-Etienne and Paris Saint Germain at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, France, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

PSG's Goncalo Ramos kicks the ball ahead of Angers' Florent Hanin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's Desire Doue, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique, centre, celebrates winning the French League One championship title after the soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, centre, challenges for the ball with Angers' Florent Hanin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Paris Saint-Germain players throw PSG's head coach Luis Enrique in the air after they won the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)