Javier Pastore Cup Final Suspension Mars PSG's Ligue 1 Title Triumph

Paris Saint-Germain are officially Ligue 1 champions for a third consecutive season after a 2-1 win away at Montpellier HSC confirmed their fifth overall French crown. OptaJean noted PSG's winning timeline:

Coupled with Olympique Lyonnais’ 1-1 draw against Girondins de Bordeaux at Stade Gerland, the victory at Stade de la Mosson put Laurent Blanc’s men out of Les Gones’ reach and opens up an eight-point gap.

Le President was delighted with his players' achievement when he spoke with PSG.fr after the final whistle:

"

We had to wait to the penultimate round of the season to win this title. But it's just as enjoyable - even more so than last season, where everything was concluded a round earlier. I love seeing the scenes of joy on the pitch and in the changing room.

It's the players on the pitch that win titles. It's not up to the coach to put himself to the fore. I still love doing this job. I have to thank my staff, because without his staff, a coach is nothing.

"

Blaise Matuidi and Ezequiel Lavezzi had put PSG 2-0 up inside of 26 minutes, but Anthony Mounier’s cross-come-shot halved the deficit five minutes before half-time. The game petered out in the second half, but referee Fredy Fautrel still managed to have dished out eight yellow cards by the time he blew the final whistle.

David Vincent/Associated Press

One of those bookings could prove to be particularly costly.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Javier Pastore tried—unsuccessfully—to nutmeg Montpellier captain Vitorino Hilton. The Brazilian appeared to take exception to the Argentine trying such an impudent trick and proceeded to raise his hand to Pastore’s face.

El Flaco did not react by doing the same, but Fautrel dished out one yellow card apiece anyway. Pastore’s means that he will now miss one domestic fixture, but French rules dictate that one match must pass before the ban comes into effect.

For PSG and their gifted South American playmaker, that means he will be available for next weekend’s meaningless home clash against Stade de Reims. However, there will be no Coupe de France final against AJ Auxerre on Saturday, May 30.

It was a harsh decision from Fautrel and one of a number of errors the Frenchman made on the night.

A second yellow card for Pastore would have seen him miss the Reims clash and be available for the Auxerre cup final, but another booking did not materialise, and the PSG No. 27 will now miss his chance to help PSG to complete an unprecedented domestic treble.

David Vincent/Associated Press

Aside from that miscarriage of justice, it was relatively plain sailing for Les Parisiens.

Matuidi opened the scoring after receiving a perfectly weighted through ball from Adrien Rabiot before converting with a neat finish in just the 17th minute. Lavezzi then doubled the capital club’s advantage with a well-taken effort after Edinson Cavani had failed to connect with a dangerous low cross from Serge Aurier.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Blanc’s men had a number of chances to add to that lead, but it was Montpellier who found the net next.

What looked like a relatively routine Mounier cross-come-shot turned into a nightmare for PSG’s Salvatore Sirigu. The Italian positioned himself poorly and was backpedalling as the deep delivery lopped over his head and landed in the back of the net.

The finish looked sublime, capping Mournier’s most prolific season to date, but it was poor goalkeeping from Sirigu, and it adds to the recent claims that the Azzurri substitute should be replaced this summer.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

The second half descended into a scrappy affair, and Fautrel continued to dish out yellow cards, while PSG weathered a storm of Montpellier pressure. Rolland Courbis’ side could not find a way through, though, and the defending champions held on to stretch their title count to three straight and five in total.

As OptaJean pointed out, it also "equals their Ligue 1 record" for consecutive victories:

Now all that remains for Blanc and his players is to win the Coupe de France final at the end of this month to complete the first domestic French treble in history.

It is a shame, though, that Pastore will have to miss out on the big game because of a poor piece of refereeing. El Flaco has been one of PSG outstanding performers this season, and his creativity will be missed against Auxerre in a fortnight’s time.