Match ends, Lens 1, Paris Saint Germain 3.
LensLens1PSGParis Saint Germain3
Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani was sent off for his trademark gun celebration and subsequent protest as the French champions beat Lens.
The Uruguayan was booked after bending on one knee and firing an imaginary shot during a 3-1 victory.
He reacted by touching referee Nicolas Rainville's arm, with the official then showing him a red card.
PSG president Nasser Al Khelafi backed Cavani and said the 27-year-old "did not deserve" to be dismissed.
He told Canal Plus television: "Why did he get the yellow card before? He always celebrates the same way."
Cavani, a keen hunter, performed his usual celebration after scoring a 55th-minute penalty to give PSG a 3-1 lead.
The striker, signed from Napoli for £55m in July 2013, is yet to respond to the dismissal on social media.
Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu told the PSG website: "Cavani? I still don't know why he was sent off. I feel really bad for him."
PSG coach Laurent Blanc said: "I'm not going to make any comment about the refereeing. It's a difficult game to analyse."
Adama Coulibaly's 20-yard shot had put Lens ahead but former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye equalised.
Maxwell gave PSG the lead with a lob before Jean-Philippe Gbamin was sent off for shoving Cavani in the area.
Jerome Le Moigne was dismissed for the newly-promoted hosts just before the hour in a game played at the Stade de France because Lens's Bollaert stadium is being renovated.
Leaders Marseille beat Toulouse 2-0 on Sunday as goals from Nicolas N'Koulou and Andre-Pierre Gignac kept them clear at the top of Ligue 1.
Line-ups
Lens
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Riou
- 3Cavare
- 22Landre
- 25GbaminBooked at 53mins
- 24Baal
- 20NomenjanaharySubstituted forEl Jadeyaouiat 82'minutes
- 6Le MoigneBooked at 59mins
- 18Valdivia
- 11Chavarria
- 7TouzgharSubstituted forBaat 63'minutes
- 9CoulibalySubstituted forGuillaumeat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 14N'Diaye
- 15Fradj
- 19Guillaume
- 21El Jadeyaoui
- 29Bourigeaud
- 33Ba
- 40Belon
PSG
Formation 4-3-3
- 30Sirigu
- 23Van der Wiel
- 6Camara
- 8MottaSubstituted forKimpembeat 76'minutes
- 17Cabelino Andrade
- 24Verratti
- 4CabayeSubstituted forChantômeat 63'minutes
- 14MatuidiSubstituted forBahebeckat 21'minutes
- 7Lucas Moura
- 9CavaniBooked at 56mins
- 27Pastore
Substitutes
- 1Douchez
- 15Bahebeck
- 19Aurier
- 20Chantôme
- 33Augustin
- 34Kimpembe
- Referee:
- Nicolas Rainville
- Attendance:
- 70,785
Match Stats
Home TeamLensAway TeamPSG
- Possession
- Home27%
- Away73%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away8
- Corners
- Home3
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away8
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Lens 1, Paris Saint Germain 3.
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Foul by Jean-Christophe Bahebeck (Paris Saint Germain).
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Pierrick Valdivia (Lens) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint Germain).
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Alharbi El Jadeyaoui (Lens) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Hand ball by Ludovic Baal (Lens).
Substitution
Substitution, Lens. Alharbi El Jadeyaoui replaces Lalaïna Nomenjanahary.
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Attempt missed. Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Loïck Landre (Lens).
Substitution
Substitution, Lens. Baptiste Guillaume replaces Adamo Coulibaly.
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Foul by Gregory Van der Wiel (Paris Saint Germain).
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Lalaïna Nomenjanahary (Lens) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Presnel Kimpembe replaces Thiago Motta.
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Delay in match Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) because of an injury.
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Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dimitri Kevin Cavare (Lens).
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Attempt missed. Pierrick Valdivia (Lens) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.