Recap: Lens edge Montpellier at home
Match Reports
On a Sunday afternoon Ligue 1 McDonald's match, Will Still's RC Lens edged closer to the European places with a third win in four matches, defeating visiting Montpellier HSC at the Stade Bollaert, 2-0.
Coming in to form
Lens had endured a difficult start to the season under Still, having been knocked out the UEFA Europa Conference League and then enduring a run of eight matches in which they one just once. Lately, though, wins over Reims and Nantes had begun to right the ship and Lens came into this match eager to build on that in the penultimate Ligue 1 match of the calendar year. Their opponents on the day, Montpellier, have struggled this season, mired in last place and having already replaced their manager.
The first half was played cautiously, and while Brice Samba would have to keep out Musa Al Tamaari just before the half hour mark, the only goal in it would come in the only real chance, as Rémy Labeau-Lascary opened the scoring by beating Benjamin Lecomte from a tight angle, with in-form M'Bala Nzola setting up the young Frenchman with a slide-rule pass.
Lens’ Sainte-Barbe special kit in action 😍✨ pic.twitter.com/uhbJ6UQe2D
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 8, 2024
A lively second half, and a gutting finish
Despite going a goal down, Montpellier and their cadre of attacking talent were unbowed, and pushed hard to come back into the match, working to test Samba on several occasions in the second half, just as the hosts did the same, with Angelo Fulgini in particular forcing Lecomte into a fine save just before the hour. Samba made a pair of good saves thereafter, keeping out a close-range effort from Téji Savanier and a volley by Issiaga Sylla, but the hosts kept their narrow lead before doubling it in stoppage time, with Lecomte spilling a free kick.
With the result, Lens are seventh, level on points with OGC Nice ahead of facing Auxerre next weekend, while Montpellier remain bottom before welcoming Nice to conclude the 2024 portion of the Ligue 1 McDonald's season.
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