Paris Saint-Germain continued their perfect start to the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season with a 2-0 win over Lens, but their victory came with a worrying injury toll. Meanwhile, Ethan Mbappe made headlines with a dramatic last-minute strike to help Lille edge past Toulouse 2-1.
PSG’s Bradley Barcola delivered a stellar performance, scoring both goals in the first and second halves. His elegant curling effort in the 15th minute and a powerful strike after the break were enough to see PSG secure their fourth consecutive victory. However, the match was marred by injuries to several key players, including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in, and Lucas Beraldo, all of whom were forced off the field during the game. These injuries added to the concerns after Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue were already sidelined due to knocks sustained during international duty.
“We have injured players, but it happens to everyone. It’s not a crisis,” said PSG manager Luis Enrique after the game. “We need to wait for the test results, but we have a strong squad and the ability to adapt.”
While PSG’s victory solidified their position at the top of the table, the injuries to their players have cast a shadow over their preparations for the upcoming Champions League fixtures.
At Lille, the spotlight shifted to 18-year-old Ethan Mbappe, who netted a dramatic volley in the dying seconds of the match to give his team a 2-1 victory over Toulouse. The match had been evenly poised after a penalty from Nabil Bentaleb equalised for Lille in added time. But it was Mbappe’s late heroics, which followed a red card for Toulouse’s defensive midfielder, that stole the show.
“I had a tough year last season with injuries, so scoring this goal means a lot to me,” Mbappe said after the match. His first goal for Lille came in his 11th league appearance since joining from PSG in the summer of 2024.
Before Mbappe’s late winner, Toulouse had taken the lead through Frank Magri’s goal early in the second half. Despite Toulouse being reduced to 10 men on the 80th minute, Lille seemed destined for a draw until the thrilling final moments.
With the win, Lille temporarily climbed to the top of Ligue 1, only for PSG to reclaim the spot with their own victory. Lyon, who also boast a perfect record this season, could have taken the top position if they beat Rennes in their weekend fixture.
Elsewhere, Strasbourg emerged victorious in a dramatic 1-0 win over Le Havre, with Joaquin Panichelli converting a penalty in the 92nd minute. Paris FC also secured their second win of the season, defeating Brest 2-1, while Metz and Angers played out a 1-1 draw.
