Lens survives Nantes fury at La Beaujoire: 2-1 victory

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 64/100. At Stade de la Beaujoire, an unbeaten leader faces a relegation-haunted side—and intensity becomes the only winner.

The 34th-minute explosion: four goals in four minutes

Silence to chaos in 240 seconds. Lens, dominant from the whistle, struck first: Florian Thauvin opened the scoring in the 34th minute, courtesy of R. Aguilar's assist. The leader breathed easy. Then the balance shattered. Two minutes later, Nantes crashed through via Y. El Arabi at the 38th. Before the crowd could settle, El Arabi struck again—1-1 became 1-2 in 38 minutes. Three goals in four minutes. The scoreline lurched back and forth.

Lens reasserts control: Said seals it at 81

Matthis Abline, Nantes' starting forward, embodied local resistance, but Lens, despite the psychological jolt, never crumbled. With 66% possession and 21 shots (6 on target), the leaders suffocated their opponents statistically. W. Said, introduced from the bench, planted the winner at 81 minutes, set up by M. Udol. Lens restored order: 2-1. Four lead changes told a story of fragile balance, but technical superiority ultimately prevailed.

Nantes drowns deeper; Lens marches on

For Nantes, 16th with 11 points after 15 games, this defeat deepens the relegation battle. With a -11 goal difference and form reading LLDDL, the Canaries navigate murky waters. For Lens, the unbeaten leaders (34 points, 11 wins), this sweat-soaked victory proves that even after a brutal emotional reversal, quality wins. Five straight wins, zero defeats: the title awaits only the slip-ups of challengers.