Torres Scores as PSG Secures First Ligue 1 Win; Mbappe Shines for Lille
Torres Leads PSG to Opening Ligue 1 Victory
Ferran Torres scored the lone goal to help Paris Saint-Germain claim their first Ligue 1 win of the season, edging Brest 1-0 on Sunday. Until then, PSG had struggled domestically with only two points from three matches.
Fresh from a 6-1 Champions League rout of Slovan Bratislava, PSG got back on track thanks to their new signing, Torres. The Spaniard, who joined from Barcelona this summer and scored the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final, struck early at Brest's Stade Francis-Le Ble.
Torres now has six goals in five appearances across all competitions for PSG. He said, "What matters to me is always helping the team, regardless of how much playing time the coach decides to give me, and doing my part. Whether that’s through goals, assists, or my work on the pitch."
The victory lifted PSG to eighth place in the league, matching Brest's record, who remained unbeaten until the clash. Before kickoff, Brest honored their former coach Eric Roy, who passed away in June at age 58 due to pancreatic cancer.
PSG’s breakthrough came early when Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele backheeled the ball to Torres, who calmly placed it into the bottom corner beyond goalkeeper Egil Selvik. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia nearly doubled the lead later in an exciting first half.
Defensive concerns arose as Morocco captain and right-back Achraf Hakimi left the pitch injured before halftime, replaced by midfielder Fabian Ruiz.
Brest almost equalized early in the second half when Nuno Mendes’ error led to a chance for Kamory Doumbia, whose shot hit the post. Shortly after, Brest accidentally scored an own goal, but it was ruled out for a push by Warren Zaire-Emery.
Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov made a crucial save late in the game, tipping a Pathe Mboup attempt wide to preserve the win for PSG.
Mbappe Redeems Himself with Late Goal for Lille
Earlier on Sunday, Ethan Mbappe found redemption after his midweek Champions League red card by scoring in stoppage time during Lille's 2-0 victory over Troyes. This win pushed Lille to the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
The younger brother of France and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe had been sent off in a 3-2 defeat against Real Betis for elbowing an opponent. Coming off the bench against Troyes, Ethan scored the decisive goal after Portuguese full-back Tiago Santos gave the hosts an early lead.
His celebration was modest as he apologized to fans for the earlier incident. Lille coach Davide Ancelotti praised him, saying, "He came to his senses after his red card and showed maturity beyond his years; he took responsibility for his actions. This week has been very important for him personally, helping him to grow as a player and as a person. As for his qualities, he certainly has them – he showed that again today."
Lille have collected 10 points from 12 possible under Ancelotti, son of Brazil national coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Lens Faces Challenges in Domestic Play
Last season's surprise challengers, Lens, have struggled early in Ligue 1 despite recent success abroad. They won 3-2 in the Champions League against Slavia Prague and beat PSG in the French Champions Trophy last month. Yet, their domestic form remains shaky with only four points from four games following a 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Le Mans, placing them tenth in the table.
