Psg defeated Lens 2-0, marred by injuries to key players ahead of their Champions League opener. Barcola scored twice. Ethan Mbappé netted his first Ligue 1 goal for Lille. Werder Bremen thrashed Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0, while St Pauli beat Augsburg 2-1.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) continued their dominant run in Ligue 1, securing a fourth consecutive victory with a 2-0 win over Lens. However, the triumph was marred by a series of injuries, casting a shadow over the team's preparations for their upcoming Champions League campaign.
PSG, set to host Atalanta in their midweek Champions League opener, were already missing key forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué. The situation worsened as the match progressed, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in, and Lucas Beraldo all forced off the field due to injuries. Despite the setbacks, Bradley Barcola emerged as the hero of the night, netting both goals for the Parisians.
Barcola's first goal was a moment of brilliance, a perfectly curled shot from outside the box that nestled into the top corner of the net. His second goal, scored after the interval, was a well-placed low drive from distance, sealing the victory for PSG.
"The competition that everyone in football loves is coming up," PSG coach Luis Enrique said. "It is a difficult time for us because we have injured players. We have to wait and see the results for the three players who got injured today. It is about our ability to adapt and we need to respond as a team." The injuries will undoubtedly test the depth and resilience of the squad as they navigate both domestic and European competitions.
In other Ligue 1 action, Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of Kylian Mbappé, marked his breakthrough with his first Ligue 1 goal. His late volley in stoppage time secured a 2-1 victory for Lille against Toulouse. Lille had to fight back from a goal down, with Nabil Bentaleb converting a penalty in the 90th minute to level the score after Frank Magri had given Toulouse the lead. Notably, both Mbappé brothers departed PSG in the summer of 2024, with Kylian joining Real Madrid and Ethan signing for Lille.
Meanwhile, in the Bundesliga, Borussia Mönchengladbach suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Werder Bremen, extending their goalless streak to three league games. This marks their worst start to a Bundesliga season in 34 years. Despite creating numerous chances in the first half, Gladbach failed to find the net, while Werder Bremen capitalized on their opportunities, going into half-time with a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Samuel Mbangula and Jens Stage. Werder added two more goals in the second half, with Romano Schmid and Justin Njinmah completing the rout. This victory marked Werder Bremen's first win of the season, while Gladbach's winless run now extends to 10 league games, including matches from last season.
Elsewhere, Danel Sinani scored a late goal for St Pauli to secure a 2-1 victory against Augsburg, maintaining the newly-promoted team's unbeaten start to the season.
The PSG's win demonstrated their strength in depth, as Bradley Barcola stepped up to secure the win, but the injuries have raised concerns about their Champions League campaign, especially with key players sidelined. Coach Luis Enrique will need to adapt his tactics and utilize his squad effectively to navigate through this challenging period. Lille's victory, thanks to Ethan Mbappé's late heroics, highlights the emergence of young talent in the league, while Werder Bremen's emphatic win over Borussia Mönchengladbach underscores the unpredictable nature of football.