PSG’s perfect start overshadowed by injuries ahead of Champions League opener
PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain extended its perfect start to the French league with a fourth straight win by beating Lens 2-0 on Sunday. But the victory was overshadowed by more injuries for the European champion ahead of its Champions League opener.
PSG, which hosts Serie A team Atalanta on Wednesday, was already without forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, and finished the game with even more players sidelined.
The European champion was in control throughout the afternoon at Parc des Princes but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in and Lucas Beraldo were all forced to leave the field with injuries.
“The competition that everyone in football loves is coming up,” PSG coach Luis 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 scored both goals for PSG — the first with a fine curling shot from outside the box into the top corner in the first half, and the second after the break with a low finish from distance.
PSG tops the league standings with 12 points from four matches. Lyon, the only other side to have won all its games heading into the fourth round, played at Rennes later Sunday.
Mbappé’s brother scores his 1st Ligue 1 goal
Teenager Ethan Mbappé, the brother of France superstar Kylian, scored his first goal in the French league, a superb volley deep in injury time that secured a 2-1 win for Lille against Toulouse.
Mbappé, who joined Lille a year ago from Paris Saint-Germain, came on as a substitute with only nine minutes left to play. He connected with a cross in the eighth minute of added time and volleyed the ball into the top corner with his left foot.
The technically gifted left-footed 18-year-old midfielder was hampered by injuries last season.
Lille trailed until the 90th minute when Nabil Bentaleb scored from the penalty spot to level the score after a handball in the box by Rasmus Nicolaisen.
Lille dominated proceedings in the first half and was caught against the run of play after the interval in the 50th minute when Frank Magri broke the deadlock. The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute after Alexis Vossah was sent off for a dangerous foul on Benjamin André.
Both Mbappé brothers left Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024. While Kylian crossed the border to join the Spanish league, Ethan remained in France and signed a three-year deal with Lille.
Red cards
A late penalty converted by substitute Joaquin Panichelli in added time gave Strasbourg a 1-0 win against Le Havre, its third league victory so far this season. Strasbourg finished with 10 men following Lucas Hogsberg’s sending off.
Also reduced to 10 players after Otavio’s red card, promoted Paris FC won a second straight match with a 2-1 win at Brest with goals from Willem Geubbels and Vincent Marchetti.
Still looking for its first win this season, last-place Metz drew 1-1 with Angers.
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