August 02, (THEWILL) – When the current and former French League champions, Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, met in Sunday’s Trophee des Champions, it was Xeka’s first-half thunderbolt that proved the difference as Lille effectively ended the eight-year iron grip PSG had over the Cup.
PSG had done a lot of good transfer business in the time since Lille resolutely held their lead at the top of the table to deny PSG another Ligue 1 title. In almost every department, PSG had restocked the team with the target being to quickly retake their domestic title from Lille, on the one hand, and get that elusive UEFA Champions League title, on the other.
Tested hands were brought in to shore up the team from the goal to the strike force. Gianluigi Donnarumma came to help at the post, Sergio Ramos in defense, Achraf Hakimi in midfield with Georginio Wijnaldum all supposed to collaborate with team playmaker Neymar while the pacy and cold-blooded finisher Kylian Mbappe putting it all together to make them fearsome.
Yet, in the Trophee des Champions, Lille showed that tenacity that helped them to the French League title.
Jocelyn Gourvennec’s side claimed the first piece of silverware of France’s domestic season in the showpiece event that took place in Israel this year, at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel-Aviv.
In truth, Mauricio Pochettino’s side was hampered by big-name absentees, including Mbappe and Neymar, they still dictated proceedings for the remainder of the first half even though only Julian Draxler tested Lille keeper Leo Jardim with a pile driver from range. The excellent keeper kept it out with a smart save.
Lille frontman Burak Yilmaz kept PSG keeper Keylor Navas busy too, but it was Portuguese central midfielder Xeka who broke the deadlock. He powered in a right-footed effort from just outside the area to beat Navas.
Left winger for PSG, Abdou Diallo, was guilty of wasting a gilt-edged chance to restore parity as his close-range header went wide after Mauro Icardi had redirected the ball towards the defender.
Then Icardi himself, central striker for Les Parisiens thought he had finally found the equaliser with a quarter of an hour left but his chipped finish was ruled out for offside to his dismay. Julian Draxler fluffed his chance when he volleyed inches wide moments later.
It was not long after that the final whistle went and Lille had successfully trumped the men from Paris once again as they did for most of their title winning run last season. It was what Gourvennec needed, as he claimed a trophy in his first competitive game in charge of the side.
For Pochettino, the hunt for a third crown with the French giants will go on as it was not to be on Sunday. The match opens up the league and Lille will kick off their Ligue 1 title defence proper with a trip to Metz on August 8, while PSG travel to Troyes the day before for the season opener of their own.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
