Lens claimed their maiden French Super Cup title on Sunday, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in a hard-fought encounter at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The victory denied PSG a second trophy in less than a week, following their recent UEFA Super Cup win against Aston Villa.
The decisive moment arrived in the 32nd minute when PSG failed to clear their lines, allowing Florian Thauvin to slot home at the back post from a cross-shot by Matthieu Udol. Despite the setback, Lens faced significant adversity shortly before halftime when Kyllian Antonio was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Maghnes Akliouche.
PSG struggled to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Desire Doue came closest to leveling the score before the break, but his effort from a tight angle struck the crossbar. Even as the European champions pushed for an equalizer in the second half, Lens remained dangerous on the counter-attack, with Thauvin narrowly missing a second goal.
The match ended with both sides reduced to ten men. In the 87th minute, PSG defender Nuno Mendes received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident where he elbowed Lens wing-back Michal Skoras in the face. This dismissal rules Mendes out of PSG’s upcoming Ligue 1 opener.
PSG coach Luis Enrique expressed frustration with the result, stating, “I think we deserved more. We played a very good match, but we didn’t have the luck we needed.” He added his congratulations to Lens, acknowledging their intensity and performance. The match marked the debut for new Lens coach Dino Toppmoeller, who took over from Pierre Sage, the manager who led the club to their first French Cup title last May.
For the fixture, Luis Enrique fielded a strong lineup, including the second debut of left-back Lucas Digne, who recently rejoined the club from Aston Villa. Notably, Bradley Barcola was absent from the squad amid ongoing transfer speculation linking him to Liverpool. Despite dominating early possession, PSG found it difficult to break down the Lens defense, with goalkeeper Robin Risser comfortably handling an attempt from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The defeat raises questions about PSG’s squad depth, despite the club’s recent efforts to bolster an already successful roster that has secured five consecutive Ligue 1 titles and two straight Champions League trophies. Enrique defended the club’s recruitment strategy, noting, “Strengthening the squad does not mean we lack confidence in the current players. Bringing in new players provides a different energy and mentality.”
The summer transfer window saw the arrival of World Cup forward Ferran Torres alongside wingers Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts, adding to an already potent attacking lineup. Substitutes Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele were introduced in the second half, but they were unable to break the deadlock against a resilient Lens side.
PSG now shifts its focus to the start of the domestic season. They remain the favorites to secure a record-extending 15th Ligue 1 title, with their campaign set to begin at home against Rennes next Sunday. This match will serve as an early test for how Luis Enrique manages his top-heavy squad and handles the rotation of established players. The report also notes that 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. The report also notes that as Mendes was shown a straight red card for elbowing Lens wing-back Michal Skoras in the face off the ball, pSG were reduced to 10 men themselves with three minutes remaining. The report also notes that after he was also dismissed late on, they will be without Portugal defender Nuno Mendes for that match.
