In a stunning Sunday showdown that rewrote French football history, RC Lens climbed to the summit of Ligue 1 for the first time in over two decades, powered by Florian Thauvin's magnificent double against Angers.
Historic Victory Propels Lens to Top Spot
The dramatic 2-1 away triumph at Angers elevated Lens one precious point above reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat against Monaco on Saturday. This monumental achievement marks the first time Lens have led France's top division since August 2004, ending a 21-year wait for their passionate supporters.
Former Newcastle United attacker Thauvin broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion right on the stroke of half-time. The 32-year-old unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike that gave Angers' Congolese goalkeeper Melvin Zinga absolutely no chance, sending the traveling Lens fans into raptures.
Thauvin's Remarkable Career Resurgence
The French international, who spent his prime years at Marseille, sealed the victory with seventeen minutes remaining. His deflected shot completely wrong-footed Zinga, securing what would prove to be the winning goal. However, the hosts quickly responded as Harouna Djibirin capitalized on a rebound just three minutes later after Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser made an excellent save to deny Prosper Peter.
Lens had VAR to thank for preserving their historic victory when the television match official controversially overturned a late penalty decision that had initially been awarded to Angers.
This season represents an incredible return to form for Thauvin, a 2018 World Cup winner with France whose career had been derailed by a severe ankle injury in 2019. After six years in international wilderness and spells with Mexican club Tigres and Italian side Udinese, many had written off the talented forward.
Broader Ligue 1 Implications
Thauvin's outstanding performances since joining Lens at the start of this campaign earned him a sensational recall to the French national team in October. The forward marked his return to international football by scoring on his first appearance for Les Bleus in six years after replacing Kylian Mbappe against Azerbaijan.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane scored a dramatic late winner to lift Lille to fourth position with their 1-0 success at Le Havre. Strasbourg missed a crucial opportunity to move into fifth place after falling 2-1 at home to Brest, while struggling Lorient climbed out of the relegation zone with an impressive 3-1 victory over out-of-form Nice, who suffered their sixth consecutive defeat across all competitions.
The French football landscape has been dramatically reshaped, with Lens establishing themselves as genuine title contenders in what promises to be one of the most exciting Ligue 1 seasons in recent memory.
