Kylian Mbappé signed a brace to establish himself as the top scorer in the French league and Paris Saint-Germain came one step away from retaining the title, going all out to beat relegation-threatened Auxerre 2-1 on Sunday.
When two dates remain, PSG maintains a six-point lead over immediate rival Lens and has a wide goal difference. It is enough for the club from the capital to add a point in the visit to Strasbourg next Saturday to win the 11th title in history, leaving Saint-Étienne behind as the most successful club in the French first division.
Mbappé reached 28 goals in the seasons after putting PSG 2-0 ahead after eight minutes. The Argentine star Lionel Messi participated in the gestation of both goals.
Mbappé’s double left him two goals ahead of Alexandre Lacazette of Olympique de Lyon, author of 26, in the fight for the award for the top gunner in Ligue 1.
Despite the comfortable early lead, PSG’s defense looked vulnerable as has been the case all season.
Auxerre scored in the 51st minute when his attacker Lassine Sinayoko beat the PSG defenders past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Donnarumma saved PSG by denying a shot from Gauthier Hein in the 75th.
Earlier in the day, Lens came from behind to beat Lorient 3-1 away and kept alive their slim chances of reaching PSG at the top.
Lens is close to securing direct qualification to the Champions League. The northern club takes five points from the third Marseille.
Amine Gouiri scored a treble in Rennes’ 5-0 victory at Ajaccio, a club doomed to relegation.
Rennes was one point behind Lille, fifth in the table, in the bid for a ticket to the Europa Conference.