Recap: Lens secure second Ligue 1 win under Will Still against Brest
Match Reports
Will Still's Lens side were hoping to grab their second Ligue 1 win of the season against fellow European competitors this season Stade Brestois. Les Sang & Or had just taken a key lead against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Conference League playoffs (2-1) last week, and were looking to continue a run of three victories in all competitions. Éric Roy's pirates, on the other hand, were seeking to bounce back from heavy defeat to Marseille(1-5) in their opening match at home.
Les Sang & Or kicked off the game quickly in front of a full house at Stade Bollaert, as Jhoanner Chávez found himself in a great position in the left side of the box, but his strike would blast over the bar. It was the home side that were clearly in the ascendancy in the first half, with Will Still's side settling onto the ball and starting to move the Brest defence around with their passing play.
Chavez would find himself in the box again after he was served by a delightful reverse pass from debutant Zazoury and finished emphatically past Bizot to open the scoring for Lens (18'). Florian Sotoca would come close only minutes later after Ruben Aguilar volleyed into the path of the Frenchman, whose strike was dragged just wide of the post.
Les Brestois would get their first major chance in the game when Romain Del Castillo was released down the left side, and the Frenchman's strike flashed across Brice Samba's six-yard box. Bizot would then have to be called in action once more to parry away Zaroury's shot from the centre of the box.
Lens’ Lucky Break
Things would go from bad to worse for the away side, as Ruben Aguilar's fizzed low cross into the box was diverted by Julien Le Cardinal into the back of the net (45'). A stroke of bad luck for the former Lens defender. The home side went into the break full of confidence with nine attempts and a two-goal lead.
Brest came out in the second half with the intent to claw back some sort of result, Chardonnet's header from the corner just bounced wide of the post. Romain Faivre would get his first opportunity to get on the scoresheet on his return to Ligue 1, but his first time attempt on goal was clearly wide after being served by Del Castillo down the right side.
Bizot had to save from Florian Sotoca's strike in the box, which rebounded the way to Rémy Labeau Lascary on his debut, but his strike blasts way over the bar from what was a great opportunity. Chavez was playing one-on-one with Bizot but his strike from the left side of the box was way over the bar. Andy Diouf had an even better opportunity to kill off the game, but he once again dragged his shot wide of the post. Martin Satriano would make his debut for Lens after signing from Inter Milan; the striker turned out against a Brest side that he represented last season.
In the 87th minute Denver Machado received his marching orders after a tackle that was deemed dangerous by referee Jérémie Pignard, and was instantly shown a red card. Lens managed to see out the game with relative ease to secure a second win in Ligue 1 under Will Still.
THE STAT - IT Takes two
Lens have won their first two games this season in Ligue 1 (1-0 at Angers, 2-0 v Brest), a first since 2001-02 (4). Brest have lost their first two games of a Ligue 1 season for only the second time in the 21st century, after 2020-21. It's also only one fewer defeat than in SB29's last 23 matches of last season (W13 D7).
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