Lens storm back to the summit with emphatic win at Paris FC

RC Lens seized top spot in Ligue 1 with a commanding 5-0 victory away to Paris FC at the Stade Jean-Bouin on Saturday evening. Capitalising on Paris Saint-Germain’s defeat the previous night, Pierre Sage’s side delivered a ruthless performance to move one point clear at the summit.

It was a statement win — controlled, clinical and, in the closing stages, spectacular.

From the outset, Lens imposed themselves on proceedings. Florian Thauvin was lively early on, twice going close, while Wesley Saïd saw one effort ruled out for offside as the visitors’ pressure mounted. Paris FC briefly threatened through Immobile and Kebbal, but Lens always looked the sharper side.

The breakthrough came in the 24th minute. After excellent work down the left by Udol, Odsonne Édouard cut the ball back intelligently for Wesley Saïd, who finished calmly past Kevin Trapp to give the Sang et Or a deserved lead.

Saïd doubled the advantage 14 minutes later in stunning fashion. Collecting the ball on the edge of the area after a patient passing move, the forward unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, leaving Trapp helpless. It was his 10th league goal of the season — already a personal best.

Lens back at the top

Lens went into the break in total control and provisionally top of the table. Paris FC attempted to respond after the restart, with Risser called into action to deny Otavio, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished before the hour mark. Awarded a penalty after Abdulhamid was brought down inside the area, Florian Thauvin converted emphatically to make it 3-0.

From there, Lens managed the contest with authority. Pierre Sage introduced fresh legs, including Allan Saint-Maximin and Rayan Fofana, and the substitutes added further gloss to the scoreline late on.

Fofana struck twice in the closing minutes — first finishing smartly after neat interplay with Saint-Maximin, then adding a fifth with a composed right-footed effort to complete the rout.

The final whistle confirmed a flawless evening for the visitors. Lens’ defensive solidity once again underpinned their success, while their attacking depth proved decisive.

For Paris FC, the defeat leaves them hovering in 15th place and searching for answers after another difficult outing.

For Lens, however, the message is clear: the title race is very much alive — and the Sang et Or are leading it.

THE STAT: 

Lens (W17) are one of only three clubs in the European top five leagues this season to have won every game in which they have taken the lead, alongside Napoli and Roma (W15 each in Serie A ahead of their head-to-head clash tomorrow).

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