2013 Ligue 1 Title Decider vs Lorient
The top tier of French professional football.
Ligue 1 is a professional association football league in France and the highest level of the French football league system. Administered by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, Ligue 1 is contested by 18 clubs and operates on a system of promotion and relegation from and to Ligue 2. Seasons run from August to May. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Ligue 1 was inaugurated on 11 September 1932 under the name National before switching to Division 1 after a year of existence. It continued to operate under that name until 2002, when it adopted its current name. PSG are the most successful club, with 14 league titles, and the current defending champions as of the 2026–27 season.
Quick Facts
- Competition
- Ligue 1
- Season
- 2012-2013
- Date
- May 12, 2013
- Venue
- Stade du Moustoir, Lorient
- Result
- Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1
- Key scorers
- Zlatan Ibrahimović (PSG), Blaise Matuidi (PSG)
- Significance
- Clinched the league title
Lore & Background
From 2012 onwards, the Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) takeover allowed Paris Saint-Germain to sign top players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thiago Silva, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, ushering in an era of complete dominance that lead them to win 12 championships and 2 UEFA Champions League since then.
Reader's Guide
There are 18 clubs in Ligue 1. During the course of a season, usually from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.
Did You Know?
- The league's inaugural season was held in the 1932–1933 season under the name National.
- Olympique Lillois were crowned the inaugural champions following a 4–3 victory over Cannes on 14 May 1933.
- Olympique Lyonnais established a dynasty, winning 7 consecutive titles from 2002 to 2008.
More in Iconic Matches & Classics
Elsewhere in Paris Saint-Germain
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced