| Psg vs Lens | |
| MATCH | Trophée des |
| DATE | 17 - 08 - 2026 |
| TIME | 12.15 AM IST |
| STADIUM | Stade Bollaert-Delelis |
Lens vs Paris Saint-Germain: Trophée des Champions Match Preview
Lens will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions on Sunday, with both teams aiming to begin the new campaign by adding another piece of silverware to their collections.
Lens are coming off one of the strongest Ligue 1 campaigns in the club's recent history under the current 34-game format. New head coach Dino Toppmoller now faces the difficult task of building on that achievement after taking charge of a side that enjoyed an outstanding home record last season.
Lens were particularly impressive at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, collecting an average of 2.47 points per game on home soil. They won 14 of their 17 Ligue 1 matches there, although one of their three defeats proved extremely costly as PSG secured a 2-0 victory in May.
Their defensive record at home was also impressive, with Lens recording eight clean sheets during their Ligue 1 campaign. All of those shutouts came during the previous domestic season, highlighting the strength they showed in front of their supporters.
This will only be Lens' second appearance in the Trophée des Champions final. Their previous involvement came in 1998, when they faced PSG but ultimately suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat without finding the net.
Lens will also be looking to end a difficult recent run against the French champions. Their last victory over PSG came in 2023, when they produced an impressive 3-1 home win.
PSG, meanwhile, could claim their second trophy in less than a week after defeating Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
The reigning Ligue 1 and Champions League champions are chasing a fifth consecutive Trophée des Champions title. They secured last year's trophy after overcoming Marseille on penalties and are now looking to extend their dominance in the competition.
The final returns to French soil for the first time since 2023, giving PSG the opportunity to win the trophy for a record 15th time.
Luis Enrique's side did suffer defeat in their final competitive away match of last season, losing 2-1 to Paris FC in Ligue 1. However, their record in the Trophée des Champions remains outstanding, with Lille's 1-0 victory in 2021 representing their last defeat in this competition's final.
PSG will return to Stade Bollaert-Delelis for a Trophée des Champions final for the first time since 2020, when they defeated Marseille 2-1.
The Parisians have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning their last eight competitive meetings against Lens. They also won the only previous Trophée des Champions meeting between the clubs in 1998.
Lens Pre-Season Form
Lens have produced a mixed set of results during their preparations for the new campaign:
Win – Draw – Win – Loss – Draw
Despite some inconsistent results, Lens have shown enough attacking quality to suggest they can make life difficult for PSG.
Paris Saint-Germain Pre-Season Form
PSG's pre-season preparations have also included some uneven results, but their competitive campaign has already started positively.
Their most recent competitive fixture ended in a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup.
Team News
Lens could be without Jhoanner Chavez, who is dealing with a thigh problem. Nidal Celik is recovering from a meniscus injury, while Samson Baidoo remains doubtful because of a leg issue.
Jonathan Gradit is also continuing his recovery from a lower-leg fracture and is unlikely to be available.
Thorgan Hazard will be hoping to earn a starting position after joining the squad in July and getting more time to settle into his new surroundings.
Saud Abdulhamid started against Sunderland after making his move permanent this summer following a loan spell at the club last season.
PSG have also made several changes to their squad during the summer.
Achraf Hakimi returned to action against Aston Villa on Wednesday for the first time since the Champions League final. New arrival Maghnes Akliouche also made his debut after completing his move from Monaco.
Lucas Digne, who joined PSG from Aston Villa earlier this month, will be hoping to make his first appearance for the club.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue were both on target during PSG's narrow UEFA Super Cup victory, giving Luis Enrique plenty of attacking options heading into another important final.
Lens vs PSG Prediction
Lens have the home advantage and will be confident after an excellent Ligue 1 campaign, but PSG enter the contest with significantly greater experience of winning major finals.
The Parisian giants have also dominated recent meetings between the sides, winning eight consecutive competitive encounters with Lens. Their success in the Trophée des Champions further strengthens their credentials.
Lens are capable of making the contest competitive, particularly at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, but PSG's attacking quality and recent record in high-pressure matches could prove decisive.
Prediction: Lens 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
