Lens vs PSG: Trophée des Champions Match Today
Listen to the story
Lens and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) face each other today in the Trophée des Champions.
This traditional match opens the French football season. It is played between the winners of last year's two major domestic competitions.
PSG comes into this game after playing in the European Super Cup. The club now wants to add another trophy to its collection.
However, PSG will not have two players for this match: Ferran Torres and Mika Godts are both absent from the squad.
Fans around the world can follow the match live, watching the action as it happens in real time.
PSG has been the dominant force in French football in recent years, regularly winning major titles both domestically and in Europe.
Lens will hope to challenge PSG and prove that they can compete with one of Europe's biggest clubs.
The Trophée des Champions is often seen as a preview of the season ahead. It gives fans an early look at how both teams are shaping up before the league campaign truly begins.
This early-season fixture also gives coaches a chance to test tactics and player form before more serious competition starts.
Whether PSG can continue its recent success, or whether Lens can cause an upset, remains to be seen as the match kicks off.
Vocabulary10 words
- Trophée des Champions
- a French football match played before each season starts
- Super Cup
- an important European football competition
- squad
- the group of players available for a team
- live
- shown or happening at the exact moment it occurs
- titles
- prizes or championships won in sport
- fixture
- a scheduled sports match
- form
- how well a player or team is performing recently
- domestic
- happening inside one country, not international
- campaign
- a series of matches over a season
- upset
- when a weaker team unexpectedly beats a stronger one
Quiz
Answer key
1. Trophée des Champions 2. Ferran Torres and Mika Godts 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Lens and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) face each other today in the _____.
This traditional match opens the French football season, played between the winners of last year's two major domestic _____.
PSG comes into this game after playing in the European _____.
However, PSG will not have two players for this match: Ferran Torres and Mika Godts are both absent from the _____.
Fans around the world can follow the match _____, watching the action as it happens in real time.
PSG has been the dominant force in French football, regularly winning major _____ both domestically and in Europe.
Lens will hope to _____ PSG and prove that they can compete with one of Europe's biggest clubs.
This early-season _____ also gives coaches a chance to test tactics and player form.
Whether PSG can continue its success, or whether Lens can cause an _____, remains to be seen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think traditional season-opening matches like the Trophée des Champions are important for clubs and fans?
- How might missing key players affect a team's performance in an early-season match?
- Do you think early-season matches are good predictors of how a team will perform later in the season? Why or why not?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of watching a live sports match versus reading about the results afterward?