High-flying Lens headed into this fixture seeking to end a dismal run of four league games without victory to keep their hopes of European football alive. Knowing the task in front of them, Franck Haise’s side began the game with real intensity, and almost broke the deadlock twice in the opening minutes. First, Florian Sotoca saw his effort expertly saved by Alban Lafont, before Seko Fofana fired his golden chance wide of the target.
Meanwhile, Nantes travelled to northern France on the back of a memorable draw away at Juventus in the UEFA Europa League. Following their admirable efforts in midweek, the mid-table side initially struggled to impose themselves. Still, Sébastien Corchia did manage to force a fine save out of Brice Samba after unleashing a strike from distance.
The home side remained on top as the first half progressed, and their dominance paid dividends after the half-hour mark when Deiver Machado neatly struck from the edge of the box. Moments later, Adrien Thomasson blasted the ball into the net after pouncing on a rebound. Refusing to let the game run away from them, Nantes responded just before the interval as Florent Mollet converted from outside the area.
Lens kept up the pressure after HT, with Angelo Fulgini flashing a strike wide of the post, before Fofana rattled the crossbar with a long-range hit. Nantes made a triple change in the 63rd minute as they sought to salvage something from the game. Those alterations had little impact, as the home side wrapped up the three points 11 minutes later following a disastrous own goal from Charles Traoré, which brought an end to Nantes’ eight game unbeaten run on the road in all competitions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Seko Fofana (RC Lens)
