On Sunday at the Stade Bollaert, Paris Saint-Germain lost 1–0 to Lens in the 2026 Trophée des Champions. Here are the ratings awarded by Le Parisien and L’Équipe to the capital club’s players.
Le Parisien:
L’Équipe:
An identical average for the eleven players
Le Parisien and L’Équipe each awarded a total of 50 points to PSG’s eleven starters. In both cases, the Parisian average comes out to 4.55/10. Both outlets were generally harsh in their assessments, though not always toward the same players.
A defeat primarily due to a lack of efficiency
PSG finished with 69% possession and 22 shots, despite playing with a numerical advantage for a long spell. Paris was not dominated, but their inability to score explains the generally low ratings. However, this lack of efficiency warrants criticism without painting the match as a total collective failure.
Harsh ratings for Kvaratskhelia and Safonov
The 3.5 awarded to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia by Le Parisien somewhat overlooks his start to the match. The Georgian faded as the game went on, but he had previously created several dangerous situations. L’Équipe’s rating of 5 better reflects the contrast between a strong opening and an overly inconsistent influence.
Matvey Safonov also received a 4 from Le Parisien, even though he was not directly at fault for Thauvin’s goal. Rarely called into action, he neither saved nor doomed PSG. L’Équipe’s rating of 5 is a more accurate reflection of this neutral performance.
Zaïre-Emery and Beraldo: two contrasting assessments
Warren Zaïre-Emery and Lucas Beraldo received a 5.5 from Le Parisien, compared to just a 4 from L’Équipe. Their influence on the ball was limited, but their contribution to the team’s balance cannot be overlooked.
Zaïre-Emery stepped up in terms of commitment, tracking back, and covering for teammates. Beraldo played a low-risk game, yet his recovery ahead of Ivanovic was a crucial intervention. In both instances, Le Parisien highlights the value of their defensive work.
Doué and Vitinha rightly singled out
Désiré Doué and Vitinha were the only starters to earn a rating of 6 from L’Équipe. Doué was the most dangerous PSG player—notably hitting the crossbar—despite a tendency to overcomplicate certain situations. Vitinha orchestrated play and contributed to PSG’s dominance, even if he failed to deliver the final pass.
Consistent ratings for the rest of the starting XI
Hakimi, Pacho, and Zabarnyi were rated between 4 and 4.5 following performances that were free of major errors but lacked real command. Lucas Digne’s 3.5 seems harsh, given his limited culpability for the goal conceded. Akliouche’s ratings of 4 and 4.5 reflect a match where his movement was impressive, but his finishing fell short.
Luis Enrique: control without a decisive solution
The rating of 5 given to Luis Enrique encapsulates PSG’s paradox. His team dominated and created enough chances to stage a comeback, but his substitutions failed to unlock the Lens defense. Paris didn’t so much “botch” the match as fail to capitalize on it, ultimately paying the price for not turning their dominance into goals.
