Ten-man Lens shock PSG to win first Trophée des Champions
Lens claimed a landmark Trophée des Champions title with a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, securing the club’s first triumph in France’s traditional season-opening fixture. The victory came despite Lens being reduced to 10 men, underlining the scale of the upset against the dominant force in French football.
Lens stun PSG to lift first Trophée des Champions title
RC Lens claimed a landmark Trophée des Champions triumph with a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain, securing the club’s first victory in France’s traditional season‑opening showpiece and underlining their emergence as a genuine force in French football. thestar.com.my
Historic night at the Bollaert-Delelis
The match was played at Lens’ Stade Bollaert-Delelis, adding further significance to an already historic occasion for the club. thestar.com.my
According to Reuters, Lens had appeared in the Trophée des Champions only once before, 28 years ago, when they also faced PSG but fell short. thestar.com.my This time, they reversed the script, turning home advantage and a disciplined display into silverware.
Ten-man Lens hold firm
Reuters reports that Lens had to see out the game with 10 men, adding another layer of difficulty to their task against the Ligue 1 champions. thestar.com.my
Playing a man down for a portion of the match, Lens were forced to absorb pressure and defend their narrow lead against a PSG side stacked with attacking talent. The clean sheet, sealed in front of their home supporters, will be viewed as a statement of their resilience and organisation.
First major curtain-raiser trophy
The 1-0 victory delivers Lens their first Trophée des Champions in club history. thestar.com.my France’s season-opening fixture has traditionally been dominated by PSG in the modern era, making Lens’ success one of the most eye-catching results of the opening weeks of the European calendar.
For PSG, the defeat represents an early setback in a campaign where domestic dominance is often treated as a minimum expectation. For Lens, it is tangible proof that last seasons’ progress was no anomaly and that they can translate strong league form into decisive performances on the big stage.
What it means for the season ahead
The result gives Lens an immediate boost of confidence heading into the new Ligue 1 season, and sends a clear message to the rest of the division that the traditional hierarchy can be challenged.
While the Trophée des Champions is only one match, beating PSG in a final — and doing so while reduced to 10 players — provides early narrative weight to Lens’ campaign and adds pressure on PSG to respond quickly as competitive fixtures begin to pile up.
As opening salvos go in France, few could be more striking than Lens lifting the country’s season‑opening trophy at their own ground, at the expense of the perennial powerhouse from Paris. thestar.com.my