Trophée des Champions: PSG in search of second trophy in a week

Paris Saint-Germain secured their first trophy of the 2026/27 campaign thanks to Wednesday's 2-1 UEFA Super Cup win over Aston Villa in Salzburg. Before the Ligue 1 McDonald's season begins next weekend, Luis Enrique's side have the chance to win a second.

PSG still getting up to speed

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for PSG, who have been more affected than most by this summer's FIFA World Cup. The reigning Ligue 1 McDonald's champions only returned for pre-season just days before this week's Super Cup and only had two quick-fire friendlies (against RCD Mallorca and Manchester United) to prepare for it. The club's French and Spanish contingent only returned days before the trip to Austria and are still far from full fitness... and yet they still had enough to overcome last season's UEFA Europa League winners.

WHAT A DAY FOR PSG 🏆❤️ pic.twitter.com/mfnsNEiagh
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 12, 2026

"It is clear that we were very far away from the optimal physical condition to play this kind of match," said Luis Enrique after the 2-1 win. Debutants Maghnes Akliouche and Lucas Digne were on display that night and the pair will look to feature once again in Sunday's Trophée des Champions and increase their familiarity, not only with their new manager's demands, but also with their new teammates; given both competed for France at the World Cup and given the large French contingent already under contract with Les Parisiens, that shouldn't prove too difficult.

Lens - Como Cup winners

But their opponents will provide a stern test. Not only will RC Lens have home advantage, with the tie being played at the Stade Bollaert, they are further along in their preparation for the coming season, having returned earlier for pre-season training. "We will play one of the most difficult games that we can play away from home," said Luis Enrique pre-match. "Lens had an incredible season and deserved to win the Coupe de France [...] we know how hard it iis to play there, but I think that we are ready."

Unlike PSG, there hasn't been a great deal of stability at Lens over the summer: Pierre Sage left for Crystal Palace and has been replaced by Dino Toppmoller in the dugout; key players that contributed to last season's success, such as Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangaré, Malang Sarr, and Allan Saint-Maximin, have all departed; and there have been no fewer than six incomings. You'd think it'd take some time to get the pieces to fit.

But Les Sang et Or have looked impressive in pre-season, notably winning the Como Cup. On their way to that title, they beat none other than Crystal Palace (3-0), now managed by their former manager. They went on to beat Villarreal 3-1 in the final of that competition, which concluded earlier this month.

PSG did the double over Lens last season, winning 2-0 on both occasions. There is, therefore, a clear favourite, despite fitness and home advantage levelling the playing field. With this year's Trophée des Champions coming before the start of the Ligue 1 McDonald's campaign, it is a fixture that could set the tone for their respective campaigns and both sides will be desperate to start on a good note.

>> Champions League: Lyon ease past ten-man Sparta