Paris Saint-Germain failed to deliver when it mattered. Just days after their UEFA Super Cup victory over Aston Villa, Paris suffered a 1-0 defeat to RC Lens at the Stade Bollaert and missed out on the Trophée des Champions. Florian Thauvin scored the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute, finishing at the far post after getting on the end of Udol’s effort.
The scenario will leave PSG with plenty of regrets. Lens were reduced to ten men in the 39th minute when Kyllian Antonio was sent off for a late challenge on Maghnes Akliouche. Despite playing with a numerical advantage for more than half the match, Paris were unable to turn the game around.
Doué Shines but PSG Waste Their Chances
Désiré Doué was by far PSG’s most dangerous player. Just before half-time, his shot from a tight angle struck the crossbar, and he continued to threaten after the break, forcing Risser into several saves until the final seconds. Luis Enrique tried to change the momentum around the hour mark by introducing Ousmane Dembélé, Fabián Ruiz and Nuno Mendes for Akliouche, Beraldo and Digne. Paris increased the pressure, but their finishing let them down. Fabián Ruiz thought he had equalised in the 76th minute following a move involving Vitinha and Doué, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. Dembélé had also been denied by Risser before wasting a huge chance from close range. PSG’s frustration was complete when Nuno Mendes was sent off in the 87th minute for elbowing Skoras in the face.
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PSG player ratings: Safonov: 6 – Rarely tested and not really at fault for Thauvin’s goal, while remaining alert to deny Cuisance’s half-volley. Hakimi: 5.5 – Very active down his flank but lacked impact in the final third. Zabarnyi: 4.5 – Played Thauvin onside for the opening goal, a costly positional mistake. Pacho: 5.5 – Produced several solid interventions despite requiring treatment in the first half. Digne: 4.5 – A difficult first start, with several technical errors and too little attacking influence. Zaïre-Emery: 5 – Plenty of energy but limited creative impact. Beraldo: 6 – An encouraging display in midfield, including an excellent tackle to stop Ivanovic on the counter. Vitinha: 6 – PSG’s main organiser, producing several line-breaking passes and dangerous moves. Akliouche: 5.5 – Showed flashes of quality and won the foul that led to Antonio’s red card, but did not influence the game enough. Doué: 7 – PSG’s best player, constantly dangerous between the lines, hitting the bar and creating several chances. Kvaratskhelia: 5 – Started brightly with a dangerous effort but faded as the game went on.
Substitutes: Dembélé: 4.5 – Had the chances to equalise but failed to take them, including a badly missed volley in front of goal. Fabián Ruiz: 6 – A positive introduction and nearly equalised, only for his goal to be ruled out for a very tight offside. Nuno Mendes: 3 – Immediately created danger after coming on but ended the game disastrously with a red card for a frustrated gesture. Mayulu: 5 – Played the final 20 minutes without managing to change the course of the match. Dro: not rated – Introduced with ten minutes remaining. Lens ultimately showed greater efficiency and enormous courage to survive with ten men throughout the second half. PSG will regret their lack of clinical finishing: despite numerous opportunities and a lengthy numerical advantage, Paris leave Bollaert without the trophy.
