Lens defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to win the French Super Cup, with Florian Thauvin’s first-half goal enough to settle a match that ended with both sides reduced to 10 men.
The game was played in Lens on 16 August, just days after PSG had opened their competitive season by winning the UEFA Super Cup for a second successive year. Matvey Safonov started in goal for the Paris side, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also named in the starting line-up after scoring the opening goal in that European final.
Safonov’s latest medal had been his ninth European trophy with PSG, but the Russian goalkeeper was beaten by Lens captain Thauvin as the French champions failed to add another piece of silverware.
PSG began on the front foot, with Kvaratskhelia going close early on. The Georgia international cut inside and saw his effort from the edge of the penalty area saved by Robin Risser, before Maghnes Akliouche sent the rebound well over the crossbar.
Luis Enrique’s side continued to push forward, at times committing almost their entire team to the opposition half. Lens, managed by Topmoller, defended with discipline, closing down passing lanes and refusing to allow PSG’s sustained possession to develop into clear chances.
The hosts gradually found a way into the match and produced the breakthrough shortly before the half-hour mark. Abdallah Sima moved past Willian Pacho, Illya Zabarnyi and played the ball back into the danger area. Matthieu Udol drove a low delivery towards the far corner, where Thauvin arrived unmarked to score first time and put Lens ahead.
Lens then suffered a major setback when 18-year-old academy product Kiliann Antonio was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Akliouche in the centre of the pitch.
PSG had an hour to exploit their numerical advantage, but the visitors struggled to turn possession into pressure. They almost equalised with the final action of the first half, when Desire Doue struck the crossbar from a tight angle.
Lens replaced Ivanovic with Aguilar after the interval and remained compact, frustrating PSG’s attempts to break them down. Kvaratskhelia, Akliouche and Vitinha found it difficult to move the ball quickly enough, and PSG’s attack appeared to lack energy.
Luis Enrique responded with a triple substitution around the hour mark, introducing Fabian Ruiz, Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes. Mendes immediately threatened after racing through following an intricate team move, but Risser narrowed the angle and blocked the attempt.
PSG thought they had finally found the equaliser when Dembele headed a long ball down for Ruiz, who finished first time into an unguarded net. The assistant referee, however, immediately raised the flag for offside against the Spain international.
Dembele then missed another opportunity late on. Doue dribbled past five opponents and worked the ball towards the six-yard line, where Dembele met it on the volley. His contact was poor and the ball flew into the upper tier.
With five minutes remaining, Nuno Mendes was dismissed after swinging an arm at Skoras. Lens appeared to score again soon afterwards when Skoras crossed for Udol, but the goal was ruled out because of a foul on Sima in the build-up.
One goal was enough for Lens to secure the trophy. PSG, despite their UEFA Super Cup success, began the season with defeat in the French Super Cup.
