Paris Saint-Germain started the new season on Thursday night in Ligue 1 with a defeat. The B-decoration of the French top club has decreased with a minimal difference at RC Lens. A direct hit by Ignatius Ganago was the deciding factor: 1-0. Thomas Tuchel had Mitchel Bakker fill in just in time for Juan Bernat, who was selected for the left wing position. The official debut of seventeen-year-old Xavi Simons is still awaiting; the teenager stayed on the couch.

PSG played the Champions League final almost three weeks ago and a joint holiday that the selection then undertook to Ibiza was the main culprit for tonight’s staffing problems. Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Ángel Di María, Marquinhos, Mauro Icardi, Leandro Paredes and Keylor Navas all contracted a corona infection and were not present in Lens. Marcin Bulka appeared on cue near the post, and steered it past the goalie. les Parisiens consists of Pablo Sarabia, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Kays Ruiz-Atil.

PSG owned no less than 77 percent in the first 45 minutes, but in the Stade, Bollaert-Delelis came no further than a shooting line. The chances in the first half could be counted on either side anyway, but RC Lens was also the closest to a hit. Ganago entered the penalty area after about seventeen minutes, showed his opponents his heels and aimed the ball at the posts with a low shot. The youngster from Cameroon and Simon Banza kept the defense of the Parisians constantly busy.

The frustrations at PSG visibly increased in the second half, while the home team occasionally put beautiful football on the mat. A big mistake by Bulka after an hour of play led to the 1-0. The goalkeeper pushed the ball into the feet of Ganago in his own penalty area, which was put under pressure but then still directed the ladder into the top right corner. A few minutes later, Banza looked to take care of the 2-0, but this time Bulka was able to live up to expectations.

Although PSG have succeeded in each of the previous 32 matches in Ligue 1, Tuchel’s team could no longer close the gap. The entrance of Abdou Diallo, Colin Dagba and Jesé Rodriguez offers no comfort. PSG play next Sunday internally against Olympique Marseille, who won 2-3 on the first day of play in Stade Brest.