Lens strip PSG of French Super Cup title

Lille, playing with ten men and featuring Saudi international defender Saud Abdulhamid, secured their first French Super Cup title by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in front of their home crowd at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Sunday.

Paris Saint-Germain, who won the European Super Cup against English side Aston Villa last Wednesday and have claimed the title in 12 of the last 13 editions, finished the match with ten players after Portuguese defender Nuno Mendes was sent off in the 87th minute.

Under the guidance of their new German coach Dino Toppmöller, Lille added this trophy to the French Cup they won in May last year with a 3-1 victory over Nice, managed at the time by former coach Pierre Sage.

Real Madrid manager Luis Enrique, whose team won the European Cup in the last two seasons, fielded a lineup missing Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, captain Marquinhos, and Spanish midfielder Fabián Ruiz, but included new signings Magnier Akliouche and Luka Đuričić.

The Parisians dominated from the start, threatening the home side’s goal early on. Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tested goalkeeper Robin Risić with a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area in the 8th minute, which Risić saved. He made another crucial save in the 25th minute, denying Kvaratskhelia again with a right-footed effort from outside the box.

In contrast, veteran Tóvan scored the opening goal in the 32nd minute, easily converting a left-wing cross from Mathieu Odol into the open net from inside the six-yard box. Referee Jérémie Pignard showed a straight red card to Lille defender Antoine in the 39th minute for a violent challenge on Akliouche.

The crossbar was struck by Désiré Doué’s right-footed shot from a narrow angle on the right side inside the six-yard box in the 45+3rd minute. Risić also brilliantly saved a left-footed shot from Mendes in the 62nd minute, after the Portuguese left-back received a heel pass from Doué following a series of skillful Parisian passes.

Pignard disallowed a goal for substitute Ruiz due to offside, with Doué providing the assist in the 75th minute. Following an individual effort by Doué, the ball reached the unmarked substitute Dembélé, but he fired it over the bar from close range in the 81st minute. The numerical balance was restored in the 87th minute when Mendes was sent off with a straight red card for elbowing Lille substitute Michał Skóraś without the ball.