Lens start Ligue 1 season in style with seven-goal win over Auxerre
Fresh from their Trophée des Champions victory over Paris Saint-Germain, RC Lens began their Ligue 1 campaign in emphatic fashion with a 5-2 win over AJ Auxerre at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Florian Thauvin scored twice from the penalty spot, while Franjo Ivanović, Saud Abdulhamid and Ismaëlo Ganiou were also on target for the hosts.
Thauvin gets Lens up and running
Lens needed just 12 minutes to score their first Ligue 1 goal of the season. After Auxerre midfielder Clément Piedfort was penalised for handball following a corner, Thauvin stepped up and sent Mamadou Diop the wrong way from the spot.
Auxerre nevertheless caused the hosts problems during the opening half-hour and enjoyed the majority of possession, with Danny Namaso and Rayan Danois both testing the Lens defence.
Their task became significantly harder in the 35th minute, however, when Christ Makosso was shown a straight red card for bringing down Abdallah Sima and denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Lens took full advantage after the break. Ivanović doubled the lead four minutes into the second half, latching onto Sima's clever lay-off before forcing his way into the area and finishing past Diop.
Abdulhamid appeared to have made it three five minutes later when he headed home Thauvin's cross. The goal was initially ruled out for offside against the former Marseille forward, but a VAR review overturned the decision and Lens were suddenly in complete control.
Seven-goal thriller at Bollaert
Auxerre responded almost immediately. Michaël Cuisance was penalised for a foul on Namaso inside the area, allowing the Cameroon international to beat Robin Risser from the spot and reduce the deficit.
Any hopes of a comeback lasted only five minutes. A low cross from Kamil Skóraś reached Ganiou in front of goal, and the Lens defender finished from close range to make it 4-1.
Still, Auxerre refused to disappear. Lasso Coulibaly's side struck again in the 69th minute when a counter-attack down the left ended with Lassine Sy arriving at the far post to convert.
Lens would have the final word. Thauvin was fouled inside the area late on and, after VAR intervention, the hosts were awarded their second penalty of the evening. His first attempt was saved by Diop, but the goalkeeper had moved off his line and the kick was ordered to be retaken.
Thauvin made no mistake at the second time of asking, finding the bottom corner to complete his brace and seal a 5-2 victory.
After lifting the Trophée des Champions, Lens have carried that momentum straight into Ligue 1, beginning the new campaign with five goals and three points in front of their home support.
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