Lens and Brest share the spoils in six-goal thriller

RC Lens produced another thrilling comeback but could not take all three points against a Brest side that had raced into a three-goal lead (3-3).

Lens left with another mountain to climb

Lens headed into this one off the back of a morale-boosting week. There were scenes of euphoria at the Stade Bollaert last Friday when, from 2-0 down against Toulouse, Pierre Sage's side completed the comeback in second-half injury time, winning 3-2 and keeping their title bid alive. Days later, in the same stadium, against the same opponent, Les Sang et Or booked a place in their first Coupe de France final for the first time since 1998 thanks to a 4-1 win. In May, they will face OGC Nice with the chance to win the competition for the first time. 

However, at the Stade Francis Le Blé, focus turned back to Ligue 1 McDonald's and the task at hand. PSG's loss to Lyon last Sunday night meant that the gap stayed at just one point. But Luis Enrique's side's win over Nantes in midweek saw that lead creep back up to four points. Lens must, of course, still face PSG before the end of the season, with their meeting scheduled between the penultimate and final gameweek of the Ligue 1 McDonald's. But against Brest, it was a question of keeping up the pressure.

This time, they gave themselves a mountain too big to climb. Three goals were conceded within the first 42 minutes of the game. Daouda Guindo got the party started for Brest (7') before Lucas Tousart doubled Eric Roy's side's advantage (24'). Éric Junior Dina Ebmibe then added a third (42') just before the break and Brest looked to be cruising.

Florian Thauvin is having a special season! 💎🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/F8Z6AxkTEt

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 24, 2026

But if there was ever a game of two halves, this was certainly it. Lens are PSG's main challenger for a reason and they came roaring back, cutting the deficit to just two goals thanks to Florian Thauvin on the hour mark (60'). The France international has been in fine form of late and this did not change on Friday night. Just four minutes later, Abdullah Sima brought Les Sang et Or within touching distance (64'). 

Lens had nearly thirty minutes to net two goals and keep the pressure up on PSG, but Brest's defence held firm. They would eventually buckle, however, in the dying seconds, with Allan Saint-Maximin levelling the scores in second-half injury time (90+4'). It is a deflating draw for Brest, albeit one that provisionally lifts them to 10th in Ligue 1 McDonald's. For Lens, it leaves them three points adrift of PSG, who have a game in hand. They face SCO Angers later in Ligue 1 McDonald's gameweek 31.

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