Paris Saint-Germain moved back to the top of Ligue 1 as Bradley Barcola‘s double saw them to a 2-0 win against Lens at the Parc des Princes.
Barcola struck a goal in either half to extend the champions’ perfect start to the new season to four victories from four games, though there was the worrying sight of injuries to a number of players including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Lens could have taken a surprise lead early on, the ball falling to Odsonne Édouard from a free-kick but the former Crystal Palace forward unable to keep his effort down.
Instead, PSG took the lead after 15 minutes as Vitinha moved the ball to Barcola and the France international took aim before firing right-footed into the bottom corner from outside the box.
The hosts then suffered an injury blow when playmaker Kvaratskhelia was forced off after half an hour, the Georgia international leaving the field with what looked to be a bruised shin following a challenge by Edouard.
Having played on for more than 20 minutes following the initial challenge, he was eventually replaced by Ibrahim Mbaye.
There would be further troubling news for home supporters as Lucas Beraldo and Lee Kang-in were also taken off injured ahead of a tough run of fixtures for their side.
The team were already set for a period without Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé who were both injured on France duty.
It had been a timid first half from the European champions, particularly in light of their rampant 6-3 victory away to Toulouse before the international break.
The performance had shades of the opening two fixtures of the season when Luis Enrique’s side laboured to 1-0 wins over Nantes and Angers, seemingly suffering the effects of a truncated preseason following their run to the Club World Cup final.
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The head coach will have been hoping for a more fluid attacking display, particularly with defence of their Champions League title set to begin at home to Atalanta on Wednesday.
Their second goal was a marvellous solo effort from Barcola.
Picking up the ball from Vitinha near the touchline 50 yards from goal, the 23-year-old set off on a direct, driving run forwards before unleashing an unstoppable low drive from outside the box that crashed int the bottom corner beyond goalkeeper Robin Risser.
João Neves then set up Fabián Ruiz who shot wide from a good position, but by then PSG had already done enough.
