10-Man Lens Secure 1-0 Victory Over PSG to Claim French Super Cup

Captain Florian Thauvin scored the decisive goal in the 32nd minute as Lens shock PSG to win the Trophee de Champions.

Lens secured the Trophee de Champions title with a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Captain Florian Thauvin provided the decisive breakthrough in the 32nd minute, scoring against the run of play to give the reigning Coupe de France winners the lead. The match shifted six minutes before the halftime interval when Lens defender Kyllian Antonio received a straight red card for a late challenge on Maghnes Akliouche. Despite playing with 10 men for the remainder of the contest, the side coached by Dino Toppmöller maintained their advantage to lift the French Super Cup.

Thauvin Strikes Before Antonio Dismissal

The scoring opened just past the half-hour mark when Thauvin capitalized on a rare opportunity for the Lens attack. This lead was immediately threatened in the 39th minute following Antonio’s expulsion. The dismissal left the underdogs shorthanded against the reigning European champions, who arrived in Lens having defeated Aston Villa in Salzburg to win the UEFA Super Cup just four days prior on Wednesday night.

Paris Saint-Germain pushed for a leveling goal throughout the second half and appeared to have found one late in the match. However, the officiating crew ruled out a strike from Fabián Ruiz for offside, preserving the 1-0 scoreline. The frustration for Luis Enrique’s side peaked in the 86th minute when substitute Nuno Mendes was sent off for lashing out at Michal Skoras, resulting in both teams finishing the final with 10 players on the pitch.

Squad Changes and Coaching Debuts

This victory marked a successful competitive start for Dino Toppmöller, who took over the Lens managerial position in June. His appointment followed the departure of Pierre Sage, who left the club to join Premier League side Crystal Palace. The match was attended by incoming France national team coach Zinedine Zidane, who observed the final from the stands at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

PSG entered the fixture without two notable attackers, as both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye were omitted from the matchday squad. Their absence comes amid reports linking the pair with potential transfers to Liverpool. Without these options, the Parisian side failed to convert their possession into goals against a Lens defense that was anchored by the first-time Coupe de France winners from the previous season.

Final Statistics and Match Details

The result ends PSG's pursuit of consecutive silverware following their mid-week success in Austria. While the European champions controlled long stretches of play, the 32nd-minute effort from Thauvin remained the only legal goal of the evening. The discipline of the match was a primary factor, defined by the 39th-minute red card to Antonio and the 86th-minute dismissal of Mendes. Lens successfully navigated the final 51 minutes of regulation time plus stoppages with a numerical disadvantage to secure the trophy on their home turf.