Ganiou stuns Strasbourg as Lens go second
Making a rare start in place of the injured Jonathan Gradit, young defender Ismaëlo Ganiou scored the match's only goal to lead Lens past Strasbourg on Saturday evening, lifting Le Sang et Or into a provisional second place.
Penders keeps Strasbourg level
In a match in which Strasbourg had their squad at full fitness but would be missing Liam Rosenior after the manager's sending off against Lille, this match pitted third against fourth in Ligue 1 McDonald's at kickoff, and while it would take some time to get going, was full of the type of blood and thunder that has characterized the play of each this season.
The match started in earnest at a boiling Bollaert-Delelis, and Lens almost took the lead in the first minute, as Florian Thauvin pressed Ben Chilwell. The Englishman gave the ball away, but Thauvin was unable to capitalize, firing just wide. That early miss would prove a letoff for the visitors, but they struggled to get to grips with the match as Lens dominated the ball, playing a high press and stifling the Alsatians' attempts to build play from the back. Strasbourg's first chance was to be a looping header from Emanuel Emegha on ten minutes, but it would take some time for either side to create any real danger.
That danger would come from Strasbourg, though, as they slowly grew into the match, showing their characteristic energy and drive, winning a series of free kicks around the half hour. But Lens would play the waiting game and had a superb end to the half, and might have taken the lead but for a double save by Mike Penders (41'). Penders would rise to the occasion again as he kept out Odsonne Edouard moments later, leaving the match scoreless at the break.
First Ligue 1 goal for Ismaëlo Ganiou 🇧🇫👏
Celebration in honor of Marc-Vivien Foé ❤️ pic.twitter.com/N0CPw7vejj— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) November 22, 2025
Ganiou gets a vital goal
Into the second half, despite both sides needing a result, the match took on a largely attritional character, dominated by scrappy play. Rosenior would act first to make attacking changes, bringing on Julio Enciso, who had impressed with Paraguay on international duty after scoring in the Conference League for Strasbourg, just after the hour. But it would be be Lens who would take the lead, after youngster Ismäelo Ganiou pounced on a loose ball at the back post (70') to put his side in front.
Things would then go from bad to worse for Strasbourg as Valentín Barco was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge (77'). After his dismissal, the match drifted somewhat (despite the sending off of Morgan Guilavogui in stoppage time for the hosts) but Pierre Sage will have been more than happy with the result, which keeps his side firmly in the race for the Champions League ahead of a very winnable run (Angers, Nantes, Nice) to end 2025. As for Strasbourg, they'll look to lick their wounds in Europe as they host Crystal Palace in the Conference League on Thursday.
The stat: 11
With just 11 goals conceded in their first thirteen matches, Lens have the best defensive record in Ligue 1 McDonald's to date.
