Bradley Barcola smashed two stunners to sink Lens and send PSG back to the summit — but Luis Enrique will be sweating just as much as celebrating after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in and Lucas Beraldo all left the Parc des Princes with injury problems ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League opener.
Paris — Bradley Barcola produced a one-man highlight reel on Sunday, opening the scoring with a curling strike from about 20 yards before doubling the lead early in the second half with a thunderous long-range finish after cutting in from the left. The brace was enough to seal a 2-0 victory over Lens and restore Paris Saint-Germain to the top of Ligue 1.
The win extended PSG’s perfect start to the league season and moved the reigning champions back to the summit of the table, with Lille reported two points behind and Lyon a point further back. The result keeps momentum humming as Paris prepares to defend their Champions League crown this week.
Joy turned to concern as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in and young defender Lucas Beraldo were all forced off with apparent injuries during the match — issues that Luis Enrique will have to assess before PSG’s midweek European test. The club’s medical team will be working overtime to determine the severity of each problem.
The timing of the injuries is brutal: PSG open their Champions League title defence at home against Atalanta on Wednesday (kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST), a game that now carries extra weight if the squad is patched up at short notice. The champions must balance recovery and rotation as they chase a busy autumn schedule.
Barcola’s opener arrived after sustained PSG pressure; the second was a ripper from distance that left the Lens goalkeeper helpless. Lens offered threats at times, but Paris’ control in large spells and clinical finishing proved decisive in a performance that was efficient rather than flamboyant — until Barcola put the gloss on it.
