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Lille beat Paris-Saint Germain to clinch first French Super Cup
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Lille's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the French Super Cup at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 1, 2021. /CFP

Lille's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the French Super Cup at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 1, 2021. /CFP

Surprise French champions Lille beat Cup winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 1-0 in the Champions Trophy season curtain raiser in balmy Tel Aviv on Sunday.

Portuguese midfielder Xeka scored the winner just before half-time with an unstoppable strike from outside the penalty area that left PSG stopper Keylor Navas no chance.

"We showed who we are and we deserve this trophy," said Xeka. "A few months after the league title we can all celebrate this new one. Work pays, and that's how we intend to continue."

Having won the previous eight Champions Trophy matches, PSG arrived in Tel Aviv Saturday without Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Angel di Maria as well as new star signings Spanish defender Sergio Ramos and Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

A positive test for COVID-19 ruled out PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

"I think overall, we were the better side tonight," said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino. "But we didn't score when we had great chances, we dominated the game. I think the attitude was good and the performance of the team was good."

There was a lively debut for Georginio Wijnaldum signed from Liverpool on a free transfer and who came on with 20 minutes to play.

Lille's Tiago Djalo tackles PSG's Junior Dina Ebimbe from behind during the French Super Cup clash at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 1, 2021. /CFP

Lille's Tiago Djalo tackles PSG's Junior Dina Ebimbe from behind during the French Super Cup clash at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 1, 2021. /CFP

PSG had their chances and Mauro Icardi had the ball in the Lille goal on 76 minutes, twisting a deft clip from close range, but what would have been a peach of an equalizer was ruled off side.

Lille brought a strong side and took the game to the Parisians, who they pipped to the French title last season by a single point in a tense run-in.

New Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec thanked his predecessor Christophe Galtier for his work and said the new title was partly his too.

"PSG play an amazing technical game, but our lads were ready athletically and our collective play was tight. The team knows what it's doing," he said.

The match was the first domestic football aired in France by streaming giant Amazon.

The French Ligue 1 season gets underway next weekend with PSG away at Troyes and Lille travelling to Metz.

Source(s): AFP

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