Against El Aynaoui’s Lens, Hakimi and PSG advance on penalties
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their spot in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France by eliminating RC Lens in a penalty shootout (4-3) after a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.
The match was highlighted by the presence of two Moroccan players: Achraf Hakimi for PSG and Ayoub El Aynaoui for RC Lens.
In the 25th minute, Achraf Hakimi thought he had opened the scoring for PSG, but his goal was ruled out for offside—a decision fiercely contested by the Parisians.
RC Lens took the lead in the 66th minute through a goal from M’Bala Nzola. However, PSG quickly responded, equalizing in the 70th minute with a strike from Gonçalo Ramos.
After 90 minutes of play and six minutes of added time, the teams were still level, leading to a penalty shootout. PSG’s goalkeeper, Matvey Safonov, emerged as the hero by saving two penalty attempts. Although Ayoub El Aynaoui successfully converted his penalty for Lens, it was not enough. PSG triumphed 4-3, earning their qualification for the next round.
This victory allows PSG to continue their journey in the Coupe de France, further strengthening their ambitions for the remainder of the competition.