RC Lens

secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais

in the opening match of Matchday 6 in Ligue 1, ending a run of four consecutive defeats and handing their opponents their first loss of the season. Under head coach Yannick Cahuzac, the Blood and Gold finally found a way back to winning ways with an impressive performance against one of France's leading clubs.

The standout performer was Florian Thauvin, who delivered two assists to inspire Lens to victory. First, he played a perfectly timed pass to send Florian Sotoca through on goal, allowing the forward to break the deadlock. After the interval, Thauvin produced another moment of quality, whipping an inch-perfect free-kick cross into the path of Matthieu Udol, who doubled Lens' advantage.

Lyon managed to pull a goal back late in the game through Merah, but their hopes of salvaging a point were ultimately dashed. Lens had been reduced to 10 men following Udol's dismissal, setting up a tense finale as the hosts fought to protect their lead.

2026-27, France - Ligue 1

Lens - Lyon 2:1 (1:0)
Goals: Sotoca, 36 (1:0); Udol, 76 (2:0); Merah, 85 (2:1)

Lens: Risser; Aguilar; Udol (till 84); Gradit (Baidoo S., 53); Ganiou; Antonio K.; Titraoui (Haidara A., 54); Cuisance (Bulatović, 83); Sotoca (Kadile, 69); Thauvin; Édouard O. (Ivanović Fr., 69)
Substitution: Baidoo S. (from 53); Haidara A. (from 54); Kadile (from 69); Ivanović Fr. (from 69); Bulatović (from 83)
Bench: Gorgelin; Abdulhamid; Mesloub; Skóraś
Yellow Cards: Gradit 50
Red cards: Udol 84'

Lyon: Greif; Athekame; Abner; Bacher F.; Kluivert R.; Morton T. (Tessmann, 77); Bidstrup (Nartey, 60); Tolisso; Šulc P. (Merah, 78); Nuamah (Boudache, 71); Openda (Nakamura, 60)
Substitution: Nartey (from 60); Nakamura (from 60); Boudache (from 71); Tessmann (from 77); Merah (from 78)
Bench: Descamps R.; Mata C.; Kamara N.; Duranville
Yellow Cards: Abner 23