RC Lens won the Trophee des Champions for the first time in their history after defeating four-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Florian Thauvin scored the decisive goal in the 32nd minute before Lens held firm despite playing for nearly 50 minutes with ten men following the first-half red card of Kyllian Antonio.
The annual French super cup match began at a frantic pace as both sides attacked without hesitation. Lens broke the deadlock when Thauvin pounced from close range to turn in a misdirected shot from Matthieu Udol.
Seven minutes after the opening goal, the contest shifted dramatically. Lens youngster Antonio arrived late in a challenge on Maghnes Akliouche and was shown a direct red card in the 39th minute.
Faced with numerical inferiority, Lens manager Dino Toppmoller adjusted his setup as the northern side assumed a disciplined defensive shape. Lens dropped into a low block, reduced their pressing, and surrendered possession to protect their lead.
Parisian pressure and missed chances
Paris Saint-Germain pushed for an equaliser throughout the second period but failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage. In first-half stoppage time, Desire Doue struck the crossbar from a tight angle before Vitinha tested the opposition defense five minutes after the restart.
PSG manager Luis Enrique introduced Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes at the hour mark to inject fresh attacking energy. Mendes created Paris's most dangerous chance in the 61st minute, but Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser produced a calm and authoritative save to deny the Portuguese left-back a minute later.
Dembele squandered several opportunities late in the half, firing wide in the 74th and 84th minutes. His clearer opportunity arrived in the 81st minute, when he failed to connect cleanly with a volley just a few metres from the Lens goal line.
Late red card and victory for Lens
PSG's hopes of forcing an equaliser ended in the 87th minute when Mendes was sent off for striking Lens substitute Michal Skoras with an elbow. The dismissal triggered late scuffles on the pitch, resulting in yellow cards for Andrija Bulatovic of Lens and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain a few minutes later.
Following the final whistle, RC Lens celebrated their historic victory. The club stated on social media that the squad had remained united from start to finish to defeat the reigning European champions, praising the players for managing 50 minutes with ten men.
The triumph carried extra resonance for the northern mining basin club and their supporters. Lens had felt frustrated last season when a potential title-deciding fixture against PSG was postponed at the capital club's request to grant them additional rest before a European match against Liverpool, stripping the original fixture of its stakes.
The win marks a successful competitive debut for Toppmoller on the Lens bench. The Artensians achieved the victory despite suffering significant summer squad turnover, having lost key players Wesley Said, Allan Saint-Maximin, Malang Sarr, Mamadou Sangare, and Adrien Thomasson during the transfer window.
Paris Saint-Germain look ahead to European goals
For Paris Saint-Germain, the defeat comes four days after lifting the European Super Cup in Salzburg with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. However, several Parisian key figures, including Dembele, Doue, Fabian Ruiz, and Hakimi, showed physical fatigue after returning from vacation only a month after playing in the FIFA World Cup.
Luis Enrique's squad remains in development at the start of the domestic campaign, following the arrivals of Ferran Torres and Mika Godts on Saturday alongside expected departures. Despite losing the Trophee des Champions, PSG maintain higher objectives for the season, aiming to secure a European treble.
