The 10 key title stats

PRE-SEASON

Summer 2021 was not all beach holidays and rest for the Parisians, many of whom were playing for their countries in the Copa America (won by Argentina) and EURO 2020 (won by Italy), in particular.

Achraf Hakimi, a summer recruit, didn't take long to get used to his new colours. A goal maker and taker, he captained the side regularly along with Idrissa Gueye, to make a flying start to life in Rouge et Bleu.  

The Parisians defeated Le Mans (4-0), Augsburg (2-1) and Orléans (1-0) before drawing with Chambly (2-2) and FC Sevilla (2-2) to complete their build-up to the campaign.

FIRST match OF THE SEASON : Troyes - Paris

Beaten in the Trophée des Champions by Lille (0-1) in Tel Aviv, the Parisians started their Ligue 1 campaign at newly promoted Troyes.

Hakimi got the first goal of the 2021/22 season, replying to the hosts' opener with a superb goal before Mauro Icardi got the decisive second. 

FIRST match OF THE SEASON AT THE PARC: Paris - STRASBOURG

After the new signings were presented to the crowd, the capital club picked up a second straight win, defeating the Alsatian visitors 4-2. Icardi struck again before Kylian Mbappé's run led to Ludovic Ajorque putting through his own goal. The France forward then set up Ander Herrera and Pablo Sarabia for goals at the start of a great season for him.

Mauricio Pochettino's men then headed to Brest where they continued their 100% start. 

MESSI's debut in reims

The highly anticipated first appearance of Lionel Messi in the colours of Paris Saint-Germain came at the Stade Auguste Delaune in Reims where he came off the bench on 66 minutes to replace Neymar Jr.

It's Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice, who secured the win on an historic day for the club and French football. 

Mbappé AT THE SUMMIT

After Matchday 34, Mbappé leads the goalscorers' (22) and assists (14) charts. Which pretty much sums up his season.  

Kylian has beaten record after record, joining Zlatan Ibrahimovic among the club's all-time leading scorers before going second only to Edinson Cavani. He's scored 113 Ligue 1 goals for the Parisians, and with four games left, he could still do what no one else has done in Ligue 1 and finish top of both the goals and assists categories in the same season. 

Manita AT Lille

Paris went and won at Lille in style. Les Dogues, then the reigning champions, were put to the sword: Danilo (2), Kimpembe, Messi and a wonderful Mbappé goal saw off the the Lillois, beaten in both meetings by Pochettino's men in 2021/22.

AT THE DEATH

All good things come to those who wait. Lyon, the first 'victim' of the late goal flourish at the Parc des Princes, were three minutes into added time when Mauro Icardi struck.

Angel Di Maria delivered the telling blow late on against Lille while Rennes were beaten by Mbappé's 92nd-minute strike.

Lens, Lorient, Metz and Angers were all defeated by late goals as Paris picked up a league-high 16 points after the 75th minute.

A CLASSIQUE WIN, CLOSING IN ON THE TITLE

Paris Saint-Germain hosted Olympique de Marseille for Le Classique on 17 April with a healthy lead in the table. The ability of Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappé, however, did for OM as the Parisians avenged last season's Classique defeat at home and inched to within touching distance of the title.

RUNNING RIOT AGAINST Lorient & Clermont

The Parisians hit five against Lorient and six against Clermont to race towards the title. Against the Bretons, Neymar Jr (2), Mbappé (2) and Messi (1 goal, 3 assists) lit up the Parc des Princes.

A week later in Clermont, Neymar Jr and Mbappé both hit hat-tricks as the Rouge et Bleu marched on.

THE TITLE CLINCHER: Paris - Lens

Following a midweek 3-0 win over Angers and Marseille not slipping up, the Parisians could clinch the title for themselves against Lens at the Parc des Princes in Matchday 34. 

Messi's superb long-range shot beat Jean-Louis Leca to put the champagne on ice, and even though Lens equalised late on, it couldn't stop Paris picking up title number 10 and moving level with Saint-Etienne as the clubs with the most domestic crowns.