10-man Lens beat PSG 1-0 to win French Champions’ trophy

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Ten-man Lens denied Paris Saint-Germain a second trophy in five days as Florian Thauvin’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 victory in the French Champions’ Trophy on Sunday.

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Lens were worthy winners in their first match under new coach Dino Toppmoeller, adding to the French Cup title they won under previous boss Pierre Sage in May.

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PSG, who beat Aston Villa on Wednesday in the UEFA Super Cup, struggled to find their flow at Lens’ Stade Bollaert-Delelis, despite their hosts having Kyllian Antonio sent off in the first half.

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“I think we deserved more,” insisted PSG coach Luis Enrique.

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“But I have to congratulate Lens– they won, and they played very well, with their usual intensity…

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“We played a very good match, but we didn’t have the luck we needed.”

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Paris will turn their attentions to the start of their Ligue 1 title defence at home against Rennes in a week’s time.

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They will be without Portugal defender Nuno Mendes for that match, after he was also dismissed late on.

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Lens, runners-up in Ligue 1 behind PSG last season, qualified for this match by winning their first ever French Cup with a 3-1 final win over Nice.

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Luis Enrique named a strong side, making just three changes to the team which won the Super Cup, including giving Lucas Digne his second debut after the France left-back rejoined the club from Villa.

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But Bradley Barcola, widely linked with a possible move to Liverpool, was not in the squad.

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– Dominated possession –

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The visitors dominated possession in the opening stages but struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser making a comfortable save from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

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Lens grew into the contest and grabbed a 32nd-minute lead when PSG failed to clear before Thauvin slotted home at the back post from Matthieu Udol’s cross-shot.

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But Toppmoeller’s men were dealt a big blow six minutes before half-time when Antonio was dismissed for a studs-up tackle on Maghnes Akliouche.

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PSG almost made the most of their man advantage before the break but Desire Doue’s effort from a tight angle bounced off the crossbar.

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The European champions continued to labour after the restart, though, and Thauvin flashed a strike wide as Lens continued to threaten on the counter.

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PSG substitute Mendes came close to an equaliser, drilling a dipping long-range shot narrowly over the bar.

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Luis Enrique also brought on Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele off the bench, with the latter drawing another simple save from Risser.

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PSG were reduced to 10 men themselves with three minutes remaining, as Mendes was shown a straight red card for elbowing Lens wing-back Michal Skoras in the face off the ball.

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AFP

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