PSG beat Lens 3-1

Paris, Oct 18: French Ligue 1 resumed its domestic football following the international break with a defending champions Paris Saint-Germain's dramatic 3-1 win over RC Lens.

Lens, who's Bollaert Stadium is closed for renovation ahead of Euro 2016, were hosting PSG at the Stade de France Friday, while referee Nicolas Rainville stole the limelight by sending off an unprecedented three players in six second-half minutes, including PSG star striker Edinson Cavani, reports Xinhua.

The bizarre six minutes started with Jean-Philippe Gbamin being sent off for a second booking on 52 minutes after he seemed to push a diving Cavani in the box.

The Uruguay striker himself scored from the penalty spot in the 54th minute before receiving being given his marching orders – one yellow card for celebrating the goal with his trademark gun-firing pose and the second for arguing with the referee in protest.

Just two minutes after Cavani's sending off, Lens were reduced to nine men after Jerome Le Moigne got his second yellow card for pushing Yohan Cabaye.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi criticised the controversial double-booking given to Cavani. 

"Cavani does not deserve that red card. And why has he got a yellow before? He always does the same celebration," he said.

Adamo Coulibaly opened the scoring for the 'home' side after just 10 minutes into the game, Cabaye, however, scored his first Ligue 1 goal since moving from Newcastle United to PSG with a 20-metre low strike on 28 minutes.

Six minutes later, Brazilian full back Maxwell, who assisted Cabaye's equaliser, made an incredible effort himself by lobbing home a shot from distance to give PSG a 2-1 lead.

And Cavani's penalty wrapped up the game 3-1.