Torres Leads PSG to Their First Ligue 1 Victory of the Season

Ferran Torres scored as Paris Saint-Germain finally broke their Ligue 1 drought with a 1-0 victory against Brest on Sunday. The reigning champions had struggled to find form, collecting just two points from their opening three league matches.

After a dominant 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League midweek, PSG showed signs of improvement domestically, thanks largely to their new signing Torres. The Spaniard, who had netted a hat-trick earlier in the week and was the World Cup final winner for Spain this summer, struck early at Brest’s Stade Francis-Le Ble.

Torres now boasts six goals in five matches across all competitions for PSG.

"What matters to me is always helping the team, regardless of how much playing time the coach decides to give me, and doing my part. Whether that’s through goals, assists, or my work on the pitch," said the 26-year-old forward.

This win lifted PSG to eighth place in the Ligue 1 standings, matching Brest’s record, who remained unbeaten before the match.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

Before kickoff, Brest honored their late former coach Eric Roy, who passed away in June after battling pancreatic cancer.

The decisive moment came in the fifth minute when Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele flicked a backheel pass to Torres, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Egil Selvik.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia nearly extended PSG’s lead with an impressive effort in an entertaining first half.

PSG faced a setback when right-back and Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi left the field due to injury just before halftime, replaced by midfielder Fabian Ruiz.

Brest nearly equalized shortly after the break when Kamory Doumbia’s shot hit the post following a misplay by Nuno Mendes, leaving only goalkeeper Matvey Safonov to beat.

A potential own goal by Brest was disallowed due to a push by Warren Zaire-Emery that led to the mistake.

Safonov was vital in the closing stages, making a sharp save to deny Pathe Mboup and secure the win for PSG.

Mbappe’s Redemption and Lille’s Rise

Earlier in the day, Ethan Mbappe redeemed himself after a midweek red card in the Champions League by scoring a late goal in Lille’s 2-0 win over Troyes. This victory pushed Lille to the top of the Ligue 1 table.

The younger brother of French star Kylian Mbappe had been sent off during Lille’s 3-2 loss to Real Betis for elbowing an opponent. Against Troyes, the 19-year-old entered as a substitute and netted in stoppage time, sealing the win after Portuguese defender Tiago Santos had opened the scoring for the hosts.

Lille coach Davide Ancelotti commented, "He came to his senses after his red card and showed maturity beyond his years; he took responsibility for his actions. This week has been very important for him personally, helping him to grow as a player and as a person. As for his qualities, he certainly has them – he showed that again today."

Lille have gathered 10 points from 12 under new management, with Davide Ancelotti following in the footsteps of his father, Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti.

Lens Faces Domestic Struggles Despite European Success

Last season’s surprise contenders, Lens, are experiencing a tougher run in Ligue 1 this year. Despite a 3-2 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague on Thursday and a win against PSG in the French Champions Trophy last month, their league form lags behind.

After drawing 2-2 with newly promoted Le Mans on Sunday, Lens sits 10th with just four points from four matches.

• Match Result: PSG 1 - 0 Brest
• Goal Scorer: Ferran Torres (5')
• Injuries: Achraf Hakimi (PSG) injured before halftime
• Lille vs Troyes: Lille 2 - 0 Troyes (Ethan Mbappe scored late)
• Lille Points: 10 from 12 matches under Davide Ancelotti
• Lens Standing: 10th place, 4 points from 4 games