Lens beat PSG 1-0 to win Champions’ Trophy

RC Lens defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1‑0 in the final of the Champions’ Trophy on Thursday night at the Stade de France, claiming their second title of the year. The match, watched by former France star Zinedine Zidane, ended in a narrow victory after a single goal from Lens striker Jonathan Dossou in the 76th minute. PSG were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when defender Kylian Mbappé received a red card for a reckless challenge.

The Champions’ Trophy is a domestic cup for clubs that finish high in Ligue 1 but miss out on European competition. Lens, who finished third in the league last season, have already won the trophy this year, making them the only French side to secure the cup twice. The win over PSG, who have dominated French football for the past decade, is a rare upset and a statement that the gap between the league’s elite and the rest of the competition is narrowing. Lens’s manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, has built a compact, disciplined side that relies on quick counter‑attacks, a strategy that proved decisive against PSG’s high‑pressing style.

The game was a tactical battle. Lens stayed compact in the first half, absorbing pressure and then exploiting the space left by PSG’s aggressive forward play. After Mbappé’s dismissal, Lens tightened their defense and turned the match into a defensive duel. Dossou’s goal came from a low cross into the penalty area that Lens’s full‑back, Paulinho, flicked onto the striker, who calmly finished. PSG’s attempts to equalise were thwarted by a resolute Lens defence and a last‑minute tackle by centre‑back Franck Kessié that cleared the ball from the danger zone. Players from both sides praised the atmosphere, with Lens’s captain, Sébastien Haller, saying the win would boost the team’s confidence for the rest of the season.

With the trophy, Lens will celebrate a historic achievement and secure a spot in the next season’s Coupe de France final. The club’s next match will be a group game in the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they will face a tough opponent. For French football, Lens’s triumph signals a shift in the balance of power, showing that clubs outside the PSG orbit can compete and win major domestic titles. The win also raises expectations for Lens’s performance in European competition, as they aim to build on their momentum and challenge for further honours.