PSG's perfect start overshadowed by injuries ahead of Champions League opener

PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain extended its perfect start to the French league with a fourth straight win by beating Lens 2-0 on Sunday. But the victory was overshadowed by more injuries for the European champion ahead of its Champions League opener.

PSG, which hosts Serie A team Atalanta on Wednesday, was already without forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, and finished the game with even more players sidelined.

The European champion was in control throughout the afternoon at Parc des Princes but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in and Lucas Beraldo were all forced to leave the field with injuries.

“The competition that everyone in football loves is coming up,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “It is a difficult time for us because we have injured players. We have to wait and see the results for the three players who got injured today. It is about our ability to adapt and we need to respond as a team.”

Bradley Barcola scored both goals for PSG — the first with a fine curling shot from outside the box into the top corner in the first half, and the second after the break with a low finish from distance.

PSG tops the league standings with 12 points from four matches, two points more than second-place Lille. PSG is the only team with a perfect record after 10-man Lyon lost 3-1 at Rennes.

Corentin Tolisso put Lyon ahead in the 14th minute but Rennes rallied impressively in the closing stages. Anthony Rouault scored in the 80th. Substitute Mohamed Meïté struck in added time shortly after his deflected shot had given Rennes the lead.

Lyon, which had not conceded a goal in its three opening games, crumbled after Tyler Morton was sent off in the 75th minute for a tackle from behind.

Teenager Ethan Mbappé, the brother of France superstar Kylian, scored his first goal in the French league, a superb volley deep in injury time that secured a 2-1 win for Lille against Toulouse.

Mbappé, who joined Lille a year ago from Paris Saint-Germain, came on as a substitute with only nine minutes left to play. He connected with a cross in the eighth minute of added time and volleyed the ball into the top corner with his left foot.

The technically gifted left-footed 18-year-old midfielder was hampered by injuries last season.

Lille trailed until the 90th minute when Nabil Bentaleb scored from the penalty spot to level the score after a handball in the box by Rasmus Nicolaisen.

Lille dominated proceedings in the first half and was caught against the run of play after the interval in the 50th minute when Frank Magri broke the deadlock. The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute after Alexis Vossah was sent off for a dangerous foul on Benjamin André.

Both Mbappé brothers left Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024. While Kylian crossed the border to join the Spanish league, Ethan remained in France and signed a three-year deal with Lille.

A late penalty converted by substitute Joaquin Panichelli in added time gave Strasbourg a 1-0 win against Le Havre, its third league victory so far this season. Strasbourg finished with 10 men following Lucas Hogsberg's sending off.

Also reduced to 10 players after Otavio's red card, promoted Paris FC won a second straight match with a 2-1 win at Brest with goals from Willem Geubbels and Vincent Marchetti.

Still looking for its first win this season, last-place Metz drew 1-1 with Angers.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's Goncalo Ramos, center, reacts as he receives a yellow card during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lens at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's Bradley Barcola,left, celebrates with PSG's Vitinha, scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Le Havre at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Lens' Florian Thauvin, left, challenges for the ball with PSG's Lucas Hernandez, right, during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lens at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, right, is fouled by Len's Florian Sage during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Le Havre at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

FILE - Lille's Ethan Mbappe during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer, between Borussia Dortmund and Lille at the Signa-Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge turned to the Bleacher Creatures during their first-inning Roll Call at the New York Yankees' home opener Friday, bent a knee and flexed with both arms in honor of Brett Gardner.

“Still hoping he gets a chance to come back here and share his knowledge with the boys a little bit,” Judge said after his go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning started the Yankees to an 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins. “He was a big part of this team, his long tenure here as a Yankee, so I always like paying him a little credit. He's tuned into the game and watching.”

Gardner spent his entire big league career with the Yankees from 2008-21, and Judge made his major league debut with New York in 2016. Judge started flexing for Roll Call when playing center field, Gardner's old position. Judge roomed with Gardner in 2017.

“He was a leader. He was a professional. He was a prankster. He was everything that you look for in a guy to lead the team,” Judge said, speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully. “He took me in at a young age when I first got here and he treated me just like everybody else and showed me respect. He taught me a lot of things. It kind of teaches you how to lead a clubhouse. He had a big influence on me not only on the field but inside this clubhouse, just the way he played the game and the way he held everybody to a standard. Very few guys are made like Brett Gardner.”

Gardner has been in the Yankees' thoughts even more since March 2024, when his youngest son died at age 14 during a family vacation in Costa Rica. Authorities determined carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death.

Judge, the team captain, wanted the Yankees to arrive in style after opening 5-1 on their West Coast trip.

“That's Cap, again, setting the tone,” said Ben Rice, who homered and drove in three runs. “Sent us a text late last night saying: `Hey, suits tomorrow.' So everybody was fired up and we were happy to continue that momentum out on the field.”

Trent Grisham reached leading off with the first of 11 walks by Marlins pitchers and Judge drove a slider into the left-field seats against Eury Pérez for a 2-1 lead.

Judge, who had three RBIs, hit a record 20 first-inning home runs last year, when he finished with 53. Three of Judge’s five hits this season have been home runs.

Coming off his third AL MVP award and first batting title, Judge is off to a slow start with a .185 average.

He gave his teammates a scare in the second inning when he was hit below the right wrist by a 98.9 mph fastball from Pérez, one pitch after Grisham's bases-loaded walk.

“I’ve broken my wrist like that, so that’s always the main concern,” Judge said.

Judge missed 45 games after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis on July 26, 2018.

“Felt like he was probably OK but I tend to jump up a little quicker when it’s to him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) hits a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) walks back to dugout during the fifth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) successfully steals second base during the eighth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees outfielders Cody Bellinger (35), Trent Grisham (12) and Aaron Judge (99) embrace each other after wining a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)