At first, it was the Ligue 1 title and now the French Super Cup – Lille have denied Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) again. Back in the French League, it’s not one-way traffic anymore, but teams like Lille and Lyon are on the rise to challenge the might of one of the richest clubs in Europe.
? LES DOGUES ? THE CHAMPIONS ? @losclive
#NBFootball @newbalance pic.twitter.com/hHGfBIdJ4R— New Balance Football (@NBFootball) August 1, 2021
Xeka’s first-half thunderbolt has proved the difference as Lille secured the Trophee des Champions for the first time with a 1-0 victory in Tel Aviv.
PSG had won the Trophee des Champions – the contest between the Ligue 1 champions and the winners of the Coupe de France – for the past eight seasons, but they fell short at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The Lille midfielder was teed up by Burak Yilmaz before blasting in from long range on the stroke of halftime on Sunday, with PSG then unable to make their possession count.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (AGAINNNNNN) ??#LOSCPSG #TDC2021 pic.twitter.com/tkZ5vPHzvS
— LOSC (@losclive) August 1, 2021
The story of the final could have been different; however, had Abdou Diallo taken the best second-half opportunity, failing to convert a headed effort from inside the six-yard area with just Leo Jardim to beat.
After dethroning the capital side as Ligue 1 champions last campaign, Jocelyn Gourvennec’s side have now collected the first piece of silverware of France’s domestic season, with the showpiece event taking place in Israel this year.
Yilmaz’s drilled free-kick seemed destined to open the scoring inside 10 minutes, though Keylor Navas’ fingertip-save pushed the effort wide of his left-hand post.
? ??????? ?
We've done it ? Xeka's wonder strike in the 1️⃣st half is enough to help us to the #TDC2021 ?#LOSCPSG 1-0 pic.twitter.com/pzHTqGyBpw
— LOSC Lille EN (@LOSC_EN) August 1, 2021
PSG dictated proceedings for the remainder of the first half, yet only Julian Draxler tested Jardim as he fizzed from range to force the goalkeeper into a smart save.
Yilmaz worked Navas once more on the counter, but it was Xeka who broke the deadlock as he powered in a right-footed effort from just outside the area.
C H A M P I O N S ?#LOSCPSG #TDC2021 pic.twitter.com/xcSd3scagS
— LOSC (@losclive) August 1, 2021
This is a blow for Mauricio Pochettino, although it is true that PSG were missing Kylian Mbappe, Sergio Ramos, Neymar, Angel di Maria, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Verratti, Marquinhos, Pablo Sarabia and Leandro Paredes. But, Lille were also missing key players Renato Sanches and Zeki Celik.
The Ligue 1 season gets up and running next weekend, with PSG visiting Troyes on Saturday and Lille getting their title defence up and running away at Metz on Sunday.
