Racing Club de Lens won the Trophée des Champions on Sunday evening after defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at Stade Bollaert in Lens.
Winger Florian Thauvin scored the decisive goal against the run of play to secure the season-opening silverware for the northern French side.
The defeat marked the first loss in a final for Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique since taking charge of the Ligue 1 champions.
Following the match, Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi criticized the decision by the Ligue de Football Professionnel to hold the fixture at Lens' home ground rather than at a neutral venue.
Venue choice sparks criticism from Paris defender
The 31st edition of the Trophée des Champions pitted Coupe de France winners Lens against Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. Rather than hosting the showcase match abroad as in previous years, such as last year's edition in Kuwait, league organizers decided to hold the 2026 fixture at the home stadium of one of the participating teams.
Lens earned the right to host the match after winning a random draw conducted by the Ligue de Football Professionnel in June. The venue selection prompted thousands of ultras from the Collectif Ultras Paris supporter group to boycott the trip to northern France in protest over the lack of a neutral stadium.
Speaking to Ligue 1+ after the match, Hakimi said that Paris Saint-Germain created opportunities and controlled the entire match. He added that the team could not control playing on a non-neutral pitch without their supporters present.
The Moroccan international defender stated that a final should be played under equal conditions for both clubs. However, he emphasized that the non-neutral venue was not an excuse for the defeat, noting that Paris Saint-Germain simply failed to score.
Hakimi pointed out that Paris Saint-Germain had previously played numerous finals on neutral grounds where half the stadium was allocated to their supporters and the other half to opposing fans. He felt that Sunday's match felt more like an away fixture in Ligue 1 due to playing at Lens.
He suggested that league organizers should review these decisions if they want to help the French championship grow. While admitting that the home atmosphere helped Lens slightly, he reiterated that the venue did not excuse the loss.
The decision to play at Lens raised questions among observers, though Hakimi had offered no similar complaints when Paris Saint-Germain played the Trophée des Champions against Toulouse at their own Parc des Princes stadium on January 3, 2024.
Red card and match details
The match at Stade Bollaert was filled with refereeing debate. Lens defender Kyllian Antonio received a red card before half-time following a high challenge on the ankle of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, a decision that drew complaints from the home side.
Despite playing with ten men, Lens remained resilient amidst the summer heat and intense home support. Thauvin struck against the flow of play to seal a memorable victory for Lens.
The loss came just four days after Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Super Cup against English Premier League side Aston Villa, a match officiated by referee Omar Artan. In that fixture, goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué had secured another European trophy for the Parisian club.
Paris target season ahead despite loss
Following the final whistle, Paris Saint-Germain players remained on the pitch until the very end of the trophy presentation ceremony to Lens. The squad experienced the rare sensation of finishing as runners-up, using the pain of defeat as motivation for the long season ahead.
Paris Saint-Germain are preparing for a campaign in which they aim to make football history by completing a treble, targeting titles in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League final in May 2026.
The Parisian club has already made significant moves in the transfer market, officializing the signing of Spain World Cup star Ferran Torres to strengthen their attack. Defender Lucas Digne also returned to Paris Saint-Germain, stating he was impressed by the growth and evolution of the club.
In addition, manager Luis Enrique swiftly dismissed questions from reporters regarding the future of winger Bradley Barcola, who was left out of the squad for the match against Lens. Earlier in their pre-season tour, Paris Saint-Germain had suffered a defeat against Mallorca before drawing against Manchester.
