Edinson Cavani scored from the penalty spot before being sent off following a gun toting celebration and argument with the referee

Edinson Cavani was one of three players sent off as injury-hit Paris St Germain beat struggling RC Lens 3-1 in a heated Ligue 1 game at the Stade de France on Friday.

The Uruguay international was given his marching orders for laying his hands on referee Nicolas Rainville, after he was booked for celebrating his side's final goal with a gun toting gesture.

Nonetheless, the Parisians moved up to second in the standings with 18 points from 10 games, four adrift of Olympique de Marseille who have a match in hand. 

Edinson Cavani sees a crazy red card for PSG

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Paris Saint Germain forward Edinson Cavani cannot believe getting sent off during the clash with Lens

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The Uruguay forward was cautioned after celebrating his goal with a gun toting gesture

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PSG players argue with referee Nicolas Rainville as Cavani is given his marching orders

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Cavani applauds as he leaves the field ahead of PSG's 3-1 win over Lens

MATCH FACTS 

Lens: Riou, Cavare, Landre, Gbamin, Baal, Nomenjanahary (El Jadeyaoui 82'), Le Moigne, Valdivia, Chavarria, Touzghar (Ba 63'), Coulibaly (Guillaume 79')

Substitutes: N'Diaye, Fradj, Bourigeaud, Henriques de Pinho

Sent off: Gbamin, Le Moigne

Goals: Coulibaly 10'  

PSG: Sirigu, Van der Wiel, Camara, Motta (Kimpembe 76'), Maxwell, Verratti, Cabaye (Chantôme 63'), Matuidi (Bahebeck 21'), Lucas Moura, Cavani, Pastore

Substitutes: Douchez, Aurier, Augustin

Goals: Cabaye 28', Maxwell 33', Cavani 55'

Lens, who were hosting the match at the Stade de France as their Bollaert stadium is closed for renovation ahead of Euro 2016, went ahead on 10 minutes when Adama Coulibaly fired home from the edge of the box.

PSG, without injured striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and centre backs Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Marquinhos, hit back in the 28th minute when Yohan Cabaye found the back of the net with a 20-metre strike from Maxwell's pass.

The Brazilian full back doubled the tally six minutes later with a clever 25-metre lob.

Things got worse for promoted Lens in the 54th minute when Jean-Philippe Gbamin was sent off for a second bookable offence after he pushed Edinson Cavani in the box.

The Uruguay striker converted the resulting penalty to put PSG 3-1 up, just before himself being sent off for touching the referee's arm.

Lens finished the game with nine men when Jerome Le Moigne was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card on 59 minutes.

The result left Lens in 18th place with eight points from 10 matches.

Leaders Marseille will bid for an eighth consecutive league win when they host Toulouse on Sunday.