Dino Toppmoeller’s first match in charge of Lens couldn’t have gone much better. His side beat European champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the French Champions’ Trophy on Sunday, denying Luis Enrique’s team a second piece of silverware in less than a week and giving the new coach an ideal start to his tenure at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
The win extends a remarkable run for Lens, who lifted their first-ever French Cup in May under previous manager Pierre Sage after finishing runners-up to PSG in Ligue 1 last season. That cup triumph is what earned them Sunday’s shot at the Champions’ Trophy, and they took it despite playing more than half the match with ten men.
Florian Thauvin provided the difference in the 32nd minute, converting from close range after PSG failed to clear a cross-shot delivered by Matthieu Udol. It was enough to hold up, even after Lens defender Kyllian Antonio was sent off six minutes before halftime for a reckless, studs-up challenge on Maghnes Akliouche.
PSG, fresh off beating Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup just four days earlier, never found the rhythm to punish their disadvantaged opponents. Luis Enrique fielded a strong lineup, with only three changes from the Super Cup win, notably handing Lucas Digne his second debut since returning to the club from Villa. Bradley Barcola, subject of transfer talk linking him with Liverpool, didn’t make the squad at all.
Desire Doue came closest to an equalizer before the break, striking the crossbar from a tight angle, but PSG’s control of possession rarely translated into danger. Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser was rarely troubled, calmly handling efforts from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and, later, substitute Ousmane Dembele.
PSG’s afternoon got worse in the final minutes. Nuno Mendes, who had come on as a substitute and nearly leveled the score with a dipping long-range effort, was shown a straight red card for elbowing Lens wing-back Michal Skoras away from the ball. That leaves Luis Enrique without his Portuguese defender for next week’s Ligue 1 opener against Rennes, as PSG shifts focus to defending their domestic title.
For Toppmoeller, though, the day belonged entirely to Lens. A cup title in the spring, a shock win over the champions in the summer. Whatever pressure comes with replacing Sage, his start couldn’t have been scripted better.
