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Lille win first Ligue 1 title in 10 years, Chelsea, Juventus qualify for Champions League
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Lille players pose for a group picture after winning the French Ligue 1 title at the Raymond-Kopa Stadium in Angers, France, May 23, 2021. /CFP

Lille players pose for a group picture after winning the French Ligue 1 title at the Raymond-Kopa Stadium in Angers, France, May 23, 2021. /CFP

Lille won the Ligue 1 title on Sunday thanks to a 2-1 victory at Angers which ensured they were crowned French champions for the first time since 2011 on the final day of the season.

An early Jonathan David strike and Burak Yilmaz's penalty in first-half stoppage time ensured that Christophe Galtier's Lille finished one point ahead of second-placed Paris Saint-Germain, who won 2-0 at Brest.

Angelo Fulgini pulled one back in added time at the end of the match, but the hosts couldn't stop Lille becoming champions for the fourth time in their history.

The match was played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions but fans poured into the streets of Lille to celebrate at the final whistle.

Supporters lit flares and chanted songs in the northern city's central Place Charles de Gaulle in jubilation at a historic triumph against far wealthier opposition.

"This is exceptional. It's been a long day and a lot of pressure. To beat Paris Saint-Germain to the league title is something exceptional," a jubilant Galtier said to Canal+. "The players were amazing... the credit goes to the players, they are the heroes."

The title triumph came after another away success for Lille, who finish the season unbeaten on the road since November, and ends a three-year league winning streak for PSG.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will have to settle for the French Cup in a disappointing season for the mega-rich club. PSG lost eight times – a record since they were taken over by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011 – and took only one point from their two matches with Lille.

Tottenham's Harry Kane is challenged by Nampalys Mendy of Leicester City during their Premier League clash at The King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, May 23, 2021. /CFP

Tottenham's Harry Kane is challenged by Nampalys Mendy of Leicester City during their Premier League clash at The King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, May 23, 2021. /CFP

In England, Liverpool and Chelsea seized the final two Champions League places in a dramatic end to the Premier League season on Sunday, leaving Leicester heartbroken for the second consecutive campaign.

With Manchester City already guaranteed a third title in four years and Manchester United certain to finish second, the focus was on the battle for the remaining two places in the top four. Heading into the 38th and last round of fixtures, just one point separated Chelsea in third place from Leicester in fifth.

Two Sadio Mane goals gave Liverpool a 2-0 win at home to Crystal Palace, while Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea were indebted to a late Leicester collapse against Tottenham at the King Power Stadium.

Chelsea lost 2-1 at Aston Villa but were saved by the 4-2 defeat for Brendan Rodgers' FA Cup winners.

Liverpool had to celebrate the club's first league triumph for 30 years in an empty stadium last season and their Premier League title defense was blown off course by a series of injuries to key players.

But they avoided the financial hit of missing out on Europe's top club competition by finding their form in the final months of the season, winning eight of their last 10 games to finish third.

Leicester were left to dwell on another agonizing near-miss, just a week after winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history. 

The Foxes, forced to settle for a Europa League spot, also missed out on the top four on the final day of last season when they were beaten by Manchester United. 

Juventus players celebrate during their Serie A clash with Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna, Italy, May 23, 2021. /CFP

Juventus players celebrate during their Serie A clash with Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna, Italy, May 23, 2021. /CFP

In Italy, Juventus qualified for the Champions League on the final day of the season with a 4-1 win at Bologna and were joined by AC Milan who beat Atalanta 2-0.

Napoli had to settle for a Europa League spot, finishing fifth one point behind Juventus, after a 1-1 draw at home against Hellas Verona.

A pair of Franck Kessie penalities at the end of either half ensured AC Milan finished the season second – 12 points behind city rivals Inter Milan – and return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2013-2014 season.

Atalanta have also booked a place in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo was left on the bench by Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo who opted for an attacking line-up of Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata flanked by Federico Chiesa and Dejan Kulusevski.

A Morata brace along with goals from Chiesa and Adrien Rabiot prevented Juventus missing out on the elite European competition for the first time since 2012.

In Naples, Amir Rrahmani scored for Napoli after an hour against his former club

But Marco Davide Faraoni pulled one back immediately for the visitors nine minutes later to deny Gennaro Gattuso's side a return to elite European action after also missing out last season.

Source(s): AFP

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