PSG leads Lens by just 4 points as race for French league title heats up

PARIS (AP) — The suspense remains intense in Ligue 1, where Paris Saint-Germain is not as dominant as on the European stage at this crucial final stretch.

The reigning French champions defeated Nantes 3-0 at the Parc des Princes midweek but they had suffered a fifth loss in the French league last weekend — compared to two all last season — with a 2-1 home defeat against Lyon.

With five Ligue 1 matches left to play, they have just a four-point lead over second-place Lens ahead of Saturday's trip to Angers.

Luis Enrique's team has to travel to Lens in May, after the league postponed their game on April 11 due to PSG’s involvement in the Champions League. And with PSG's busy schedule due to the Champions League, the Ligue 1 title is far from being decided.

“You wanted a more open and competitive league? You’ve got it,” Enrique said. “Lens is having a very good season, and it will be difficult all the way to the final match.”

Lens travels to Brest on Friday.

Although the duel in the title race is taking the spotlight, the battle for the Champions League places is just as close.

Seven-time champion Lyon leads fourth-place Lille on goal difference with the top three gaining direct entry to the Champions League and the side in fourth entering qualifying. Lyon hosts struggling Auxerre on Saturday while Lille travels to Paris FC on Sunday.

Although its hopes of qualifying for the Champions League have been dented by a 10th loss this season, Marseille remains hopeful, lagging just two points behind Lyon ahead of hosting Nice at the Vélodrome stadium on Sunday.

Fifth-place Rennes is also in the mix, one point above Marseille, and takes on Nantes.

Rennes has been transformed under coach Franck Haise — who was won six of eight games since taking charge.

Afonso Moreira: The 21-year-old Portugal forward had his best performance of the season against PSG, according to his coach Paulo Fonseca, and was outstanding either breaking from the left flank or holding up the ball. He also combined well with Brazil forward Endrick in what could be a crucial partnership in the remaining games.

Dominik Greif: The imposing Slovakian has been brilliant in goal for Lyon this season and saved a penalty against PSG, following a standout performance in the previous game.

Esteban Lepaul: He was without a club a few years ago when Lyon released him and is now Ligue 1's top scorer with 17 goals for high-flying Rennes. Lepaul shoots with every precision and has a gift for finding space.

Ilan Kebbal: The Algeria midfielder is Paris FC's top scorer with nine goals and his outstanding recent form has been at the heart of the club's inspired turnaround under coach Antoine Kombouaré.

PSG will be without Vitinha after the Portugal midfielder limped off with a right foot injury during the loss to Lyon. PSG said Vitinha is sidelined by an inflammation in his heel following a knock sustained during the match.

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PSG's Desire Doue controls the ball past Nantes' Mohamed Kaba during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes in Paris, France, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Lens players celebrate after a League One soccer match between Lens and Toulouse in Lens, France, Friday, April 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

PSG's Ibrahim Mbaye, center, and Nantes' Deiver Machado challenge for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes in Paris, France, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Lens fans celebrate after a League One soccer match between Lens and Toulouse in Lens, France, Friday, April 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

PSG's Lucas Beraldo heads the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes in Paris, France, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon was set to start Thursday in Washington, while the prospects of Iran-U.S. talks in Pakistan seemed dubious as the Islamic Republic accused the Americans of a “lack of good faith” in negotiations.

Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them Wednesday, intensifying its assault on shipping in the key waterway, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the strait, where 20% of the world’s traded oil passes in peacetime, with no end in sight.

Pakistan had planned to host another round of talks, but the White House suspended U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad as Iran rebuffed efforts to restart the discussions.

In southern Lebanon, three separate Israeli strikes killed at least six people and wounded others, according to local authorities. Israel denied carrying out one of the strikes and did not immediately comment on the others.

The attacks came as Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors prepared for a new meeting in Washington toward extending a fragile 10-day ceasefire that began last week.

Here is the latest:

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement Thursday he hoped for “positive progress” from Iran after a meeting with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker.

The meeting in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad included discussion of diplomatic efforts related to a second round of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks, which was delayed after Tehran did not confirm when it would send its delegation.

Naqvi said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir were making efforts “at every level” to support a peaceful settlement and hoped all sides would give diplomacy a chance.

Naqvi praised U.S. President Donald Trump for extending the ceasefire, calling it a welcome step toward de-escalation.

Baker appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role” in promoting peace, the statement said.

Iran said Thursday it hanged another member of the Iranain exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq.

The Mizan news agency of Iran’s judiciary identified the man as Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr.

It accused him of cooperating with the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, without offering specifics. It also did not say when or where it arrested him.

Iran has accused many it has hanged during the war as having links to Israel. Activists say Iran routinely tries capital cases behind closed doors, uses coerced confessions and doesn’t allow the accused to properly challenge the evidence against them.

This brings to nine the total number of MEK members executed since the start of the war.

A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo)

Amal Khalil, a Lebanese journalist working for the daily Al-Akhbar newspaper, reports near a destroyed bridge in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)