Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) narrowly advanced to the French Cup last 32 with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ligue 1 rivals Lens on Sunday.
With star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma sidelined due to a facial injury sustained against Monaco, Russian stand-in Matvey Safonov proved the hero of the night. Safonov made crucial saves during the shootout, denying M’Bala Nzola and Andy Diouf as PSG triumphed 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Lens had taken the lead in the second half through Abdukodir Khusanov, but Gonçalo Ramos quickly equalised for PSG to set up the tense finale in northern France. The Ligue 1 leaders, who claimed their record-extending 15th French Cup title last season, now face a dream tie against fifth-tier side Espaly in January.
Elsewhere in the Cup, Marseille cruised to a dominant 4-0 win over Saint-Etienne, who were reduced to 10 men after Ibrahim Sissoko’s early red card. Mason Greenwood opened the scoring for Marseille, taking his season tally to 11 goals. Adrien Rabiot added another before halftime, while Luis Henrique and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg netted in the second half. Marseille will face Lille in a heavyweight clash in the next round.
Monaco comfortably dispatched Union Saint-Jean 4-1 and will meet Reims, who also advanced on Sunday. Meanwhile, Rennes secured a 4-1 victory over Bordeaux, Angers progressed, and Ligue 2’s Dunkerque shocked top-flight Auxerre with a 1-0 upset. Auxerre joins Le Havre and Montpellier as the high-profile exits from this year’s competition.
