Zabarnyi Crowned Ligue 1 Champion: Key Details
Ukrainian PSG defender Illya Zabarnyi has secured his first career Ligue 1 championship following a victory over Lens. In a recent 29th-round match, Zabarnyi started for the team and played the full 90 minutes, which ended 2-0 in PSG's favor. Goals in the fixture came from Kvara and Mbaye.
Heading into the game, PSG held a six-point advantage over Lens, making the clash particularly critical for the squad. Zabarnyi delivered an impressive performance, recording nine interceptions, clearing the ball from his own box six times, and blocking four opponent shots. He also won seven positional duels. Additionally, he completed 86 accurate passes out of 88 attempts, showcasing his exceptional precision on the pitch (98%).
Career Milestones and Upcoming Challenges
Since joining PSG from Bournemouth in August 2025, Zabarnyi has already lifted the French Super Cup and now the Ligue 1 title with the club. This championship marks PSG's 14th Ligue 1 triumph and their fifth consecutive one. During the 2025/26 season, Zabarnyi has appeared in 36 matches across all competitions, scoring one goal, and in 19 of those games, the central defensive pairing he was part of kept a clean sheet.
Zabarnyi is now preparing for the 2025/26 Champions League final, scheduled for May 30. The final kicks off at 19:00 Kyiv time, with PSG set to face Arsenal. This showdown represents a pivotal moment in Zabarnyi's career, as he becomes the fifth Ukrainian footballer to reach a Champions League final with his club. Last year, PSG won the final by defeating Inter 5-0.
The significance of Zabarnyi's and PSG's Ligue 1 victory not only highlights the team's domestic dominance but also opens new doors for the Ukrainian defender. This championship is a major achievement in his career, especially given his vital role within the squad.
As Zabarnyi prepares for the upcoming Champions League final, it's worth noting that he joins a select group of Ukrainian players to reach this prestigious stage. To learn more about Ukraine's rising presence in European football and its fifth representative in the Champions League final, check out this insightful article on the topic here.