PSG receive wake-up call in defeat to Lens, Parisians with work to do ahead of Lionel Messi's return

Ligue 1 title race takes a turn as defending champions finally taste defeat

Paris Saint-Germain's difficult return to domestic action continued with a 3-1 defeat away at RC Lens on Sunday. After a dramatic late 2-1 win over RC Strasbourg Alsace last Wednesday, Ligue 1's second-placed side gave Christophe Galtier's men an overdue wake-up call.

With no Neymar at Stade Bollaert Delelis through suspension, Kylian Mbappe and his teammates found it tough going and were exposed by a hungry Sang et Or side hot on their heels. Przemyslaw Frankowski put Lens ahead inside of five minutes only for Hugo Ekitike to controversially level before 10 minutes were even on the clock despite a VAR check for a foul on home goalkeeper Brice Samba.

Lois Openda restored the lead for Franck Haise's men just before the half-hour mark with veteran defender Sergio Ramos embarrassed by the lightning-quick Belgium international. Alexis Claude Maurice quickly stretched the home lead three minutes into the second half after a brilliant bit of play from Openda to tee him up.