Paris Saint-Germain began its Coupe de France defense by eliminating Ligue 1 rivals Lens on penalties in the round of 32 on Sunday
Ligue 1 side Lens on penalties in the round of 32 on Sunday, with goalkeeper Matvey Safonov the hero in the shootout. In the absence of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was recovering from a facial injury suffered against Monaco in midweek, Russian Safonov saved the penalty. M'Bala Nzola and Andy Diouf scored as PSG won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Earlier, Abdukodir Khusanov had put Lens ahead in the second half in the far north of France, but Goncalo Ramos quickly equalized for PSG.
The Ligue 1 leaders beat Lyon in last season's final to win the French Cup for a record 15th time.
Espaly, a small fifth-tier club from the south of France, will face PSG in the next round in mid-January, a dream match for the lower-division team.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Marseille easily won 4-0 at Saint-Etienne in another top-flight match.
Saint-Etienne saw Ibrahim Sissoko sent off before half-time in the first half and Marseille took full advantage when Mason Greenwood put Marseille ahead moments later with his 11th goal of the season.
Adrien Rabiot made it 2-0 before the break, and Luis Henrique and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored in the second half.
Marseille will host at home against Lille in a heavyweight match in the round of 16.
Monaco won 4-1 in Toulouse at Union Saint-Jean and then traveled to Reims, who also won against lower-division opposition on Sunday.
Rennes won 4-1 at relegated giants Bordeaux, while Angers also qualified, with Auxerre the only Ligue 1 club to be eliminated on Sunday after losing 1-0 at home to Ligue 2 side Dunkerque
Auxerre suffered the fate of Montpellier and Le Havre, both eliminated on Saturday.
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