RC Lens and Paris Saint-Germain are set to field several debutants in the Trophée des Champions, the traditional French season curtain-raiser. L’Équipe predicts that Lens will hand first starts to Maik Nawrocki and Michaël Cuisance, while PSG are expected to give Lucas Digne his bow after Nuno Mendes sustained a knock during Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup victory over Aston Villa.
Luis Enrique’s side claimed their first silverware of the campaign by beating Aston Villa in the Super Cup, though the triumph came at a cost. Mendes picked up an injury in that match, opening the door for Digne to slot straight into the backline. The former Aston Villa defender was an unused substitute against his old club but is now poised to feature from the off. PSG also bolstered their attack with late acquisitions Ferran Torres and Mika Godts, yet while the latter could appear off the bench, Torres has been omitted from the matchday squad as a precautionary rest measure.
For Lens, the fixture marks the first competitive outing for new manager Dino Toppmöller. The Coupe de France winners have undergone significant turnover since pushing PSG close in last season’s title race. Malang Sarr’s departure has created a vacancy on the left of the back three, which Nawrocki—signed from Celtic—is expected to fill. Cuisance, recruited from Hertha BSC, should partner Andrija Bulatović in central midfield, while Saud Abdulhamid—who spent last term on loan at the club before making his switch permanent—is also anticipated to feature, potentially as a wing-back.
Predicted line-ups
According to L’Équipe, Lens are likely to line up as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Robin Risser
- Defenders: Maik Nawrocki, Ismaël Ganiou, Kyllian Antonio
- Midfielders/Wing-backs: Matthieu Udol, Michaël Cuisance, Andrija Bulatović, Saud Abdulhamid
- Forwards: Abdallah Sima, Odsonne Édouard, Florian Thauvin
PSG’s anticipated XI includes:
- Goalkeeper: Matvey Safonov
- Defenders: Lucas Digne, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Warren Zaïre-Emery
- Midfielders: Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu
- Attackers: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Maghnes Akliouche
Competition context
The Trophée des Champions pits the reigning Ligue 1 champions against the Coupe de France holders, offering an early benchmark of each side’s summer preparation. For Toppmöller, victory would provide immediate vindication of his appointment and signal that Lens remain capable of challenging the domestic elite despite their squad overhaul. PSG, meanwhile, will aim to assert their authority and secure a second trophy in the space of a few days, reinforcing their status as the team to beat in France.
With both managers fielding new faces in high-pressure roles, the match offers a glimpse of how quickly these recruits can adapt. The performances of Nawrocki and Cuisance in particular will be scrutinised by Lens supporters eager to see whether the club’s fresh direction can sustain the competitive standards set last season.