Paris Saint-Germain – FC Lorient Sunday at 17:05 CET (1505 GMT)

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It has largely been a 2023 to forget so far for the Parisians, with eight defeats in all competitions and last-16 eliminations in both the UEFA Champions League and Coupe de France. And yet a run of three consecutive league wins has effectively ended any doubt about the outcome of the title race. The trophy is staying in Paris, and it is just a question now of when that will become official.

Christophe Galtier’s team entertain Lorient knowing they cannot wrap it up this weekend. However if PSG win, and nearest challengers Olympique de Marseille and RC Lens both lose their Round 33 matches, Paris could then have a first chance at clinching a French record 11th league crown the following week.

Perhaps the more important thing for the league leaders now is delivering a convincing performance. The reality is that they were sluggish in last week’s 2-1 victory away at doomed bottom club Angers SCO, when Mbappé scored a first-half brace but they took their foot off the pedal after the break. It was a similar story a week earlier when a burst of three goals in 10 first-half minutes saw off a Lens side who had a man sent off early on but PSG still struggled with the extra man after half-time.

Watch: Mbappé goals enough for PSG at bottom side Angers

“As a coach, you cannot be satisfied when your team only plays for half the match,” Galtier said after the Angers game. “We need to perform better. We have a problem when it comes to playing for the whole 90 minutes. We need to want to keep playing, to create chances and get forward. I don’t know if it’s complacency but we need to try to enjoy ourselves.”

Galtier’s assessment was understandable given he is currently fighting for his job and many observers expect him to be replaced before next season. Yet it remains to be seen if the Parisian superstars will find any extra motivation in facing a Lorient side who ended last weekend in 11th place in the table.

Lorient in freefall

The Bretons are not at risk of relegation but have long since disappeared from European contention. It is quite hard to believe now that Régis Le Bris’s team were second in the table, a point behind PSG in early October after winning eight and drawing one of their opening 10 matches.

Since then, Les Merlus have managed four victories in 22 league outings. They have beaten Angers, AC Ajaccio and ESTAC Troyes, the three clubs propping up the division and who all appeared destined for the drop. Their only other victory in that run has come at home to Stade Rennais FC, who have themselves struggled for form ever since the interruption for the World Cup. Lorient have not won any of their last five matches and last weekend went down 1-0 at home to Coupe de France finalists Toulouse FC.

Watch: Lorient beaten by Toulouse

“For several weeks now we have been defending correctly but that is not allowing us to create chances,” said Le Bris, who oversaw a number of changes to his squad in the January transfer window. “We have different players and we need to find a way with our strengths of being dangerous in front of the opposition goal.”

Julien Laporte and Théo Le Bris have notably been on the sidelines for Lorient, while Neymar Jr, Presnel Kimpembe and Nordi Mukiele are among the players missing for PSG. Mbappé is looking to add to his 22 league goals for the season as he looks to once again finish a campaign as the country’s top scorer. Messi has 15 goals and 15 assists in the league, meaning he has laid on more goals than any other player.

Possible teams

PSG: Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Ramos, Danilo Pereira; Hakimi, Soler, Verratti, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes; Messi, Mbappé.

Lorient: Mvogo; Meïté, Talbi, Le Goff; Cathline, Abergel, Ponceau, Yongwa; Faivre, Le Fée; Dieng.