PARIS — Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain continued its dominant start in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 win over Lens on Sunday. Despite the victory, the European champions were hit by more injury setbacks ahead of their Champions League clash against Atalanta on Wednesday.
PSG controlled the match from start to finish at Parc des Princes, but the afternoon ended with midfielder Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in, and Lucas Beraldo all leaving the pitch due to injuries. Coach Luis Enrique expressed concern about the team’s current situation.
“The competition that everyone in football loves is coming up,” Enrique said. “It is a difficult time for us because we have injured players. We have to wait and see the results for the three players who got injured today. It is about our ability to adapt and we need to respond as a team.”
Bradley Barcola proved decisive for PSG, scoring both goals. His first, a curling strike from outside the box, opened the scoring in the first half. The second came after the break with a low, precise finish, securing all three points for the hosts.
PSG tops the Ligue 1 standings with 12 points from four matches, maintaining its perfect record. They lead second-placed Lille by two points, the only team yet to drop points. Lyon, reduced to ten men late against Rennes, lost 3-1 after initially taking the lead through Corentin Tolisso.
In another dramatic moment in Ligue 1, Ethan Mbappé, younger brother of Kylian, scored his first goal for Lille in the 90th minute. The 18-year-old midfielder volleyed home a cross, completing a 2-1 comeback win against Toulouse. Nabil Bentaleb had equalized from the penalty spot before Lille sealed the victory.
Both Mbappé brothers departed PSG over the summer, with Kylian joining the Spanish league and Ethan signing a three-year deal with Lille. The teenager’s performance offered a glimpse of his potential after an injury-plagued previous season.
Red cards shaped several other matches. Strasbourg secured a 1-0 win at Le Havre, finishing with ten men after Lucas Hogsberg was sent off. Paris FC also won 2-1 at Brest despite Otavio’s red card, while Metz remains winless following a 1-1 draw with Angers.
With the Champions League opener approaching, PSG now faces the challenge of maintaining its unbeaten domestic record while managing the growing list of injured players. Meanwhile, Lille’s young star Ethan Mbappé continues to make headlines with his decisive contributions.