Lens (France) (AFP) – Four days after the humiliation against Como (9-1), RC Lens showed a better face against OM but conceded a third consecutive defeat (2-1), Sunday at the end of the 10th day of Ligue 1, against Marseille who continue.

Published on: 08/11/2026 - 23:06

Lensois president Joseph Oughourlian was expecting “a reaction” after the bankruptcy of an entire club on Wednesday. And if the Sang et Or were punished from the start by Amine Gouiri and especially not a terrible restart error, Yannick Cahuzac's players were able to quickly get back into the game thanks to Florian Thauvin.

Above all, they showed a much more dignified face than during Wednesday's rout to win back a public still traumatized by Wednesday's debacle. But the Marseillais, authors of a game that was not necessarily convincing, killed Lensoise's hopes of victory at the end of the match thanks to young newcomer Keyliane Abdallah.

With this new success, the fifth in a row in the championship, OM continues its crazy rise in the rankings. Relegated after the last break, OM are now in 4th place, two points off the podium. Already defeated in Lille on the last day, Lens fell to 11th place (13 pts).

Error, then a Lens response

“You are the shame of 120 years of history”: at the start of the match where the Lens ultras initially remained silent behind a banner that spoke for them, the Sang et Or defense, with a 13th central hinge in 15 matches, too quickly fell back into its ways.

After only 85 seconds, Samson Baidoo let a back pass from Jonathan Gradit pass behind him, but Robin Risser had strayed from his goal and Amine Gouiri was the smartest to beat the Austrian defender and open the scoring in the empty goal (2nd).

Despite this new twist of fate, the Artésiens began to raise their heads above water, starting with their captain Florian Thauvin. After two matches without, against Lille and Como, the Lensois X factor has regained all its influence. At the conclusion (7th) and at the origin (11th) of the first situations of the premises, he brought Lens to the height of a head within six meters, after good work from Florian Sotoca (20th).

Seeming to have fallen into a form of management since their opening score, the Marseillais were close to regaining the lead five minutes later but the deflection of the tip of Gouiri's foot went to die on the top of Risser's bar.

Abdallah's winning entry

If the Lensois had a huge opportunity just before the break, when Igor Paixao offered a ball at the entrance to the Olympian area to Yacine Titraoui, OM gradually took control of the match.

Increasingly pressing at the end of the first period, Bruno Genesio's players settled in the opposing camp after returning from the locker room, facing the Lensois who were cornered and technically imprecise.

But like Paixao's timid attempt at an acrobatic return, the Olympians struggled to appear truly dangerous. Letting the timid Marseille storm pass, far from the fury of Como, the Sang et Or regained accuracy in the last twenty minutes. But that didn't stop them from being punished.

After an incursion into the area and a cross from Paixao, Gouiri was unable to get the ball back, but Abdallah appeared (82nd).

Accompanied to the locker room by whistles and a “shame on you” banner, the Lensois will have to digest their crazy week during the break. The Marseillais begin it more confidently than ever.

© 2026 AFP

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