PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 2-1 Lyon: Les Sang et Or defeat unbeaten Lyon in resounding win for Yannick Cahuzac’s home debut

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 6, 09/10/2026

Lens inflicted Lyon their first defeat of the Ligue 1 courtesy of an inspired display for Yannick Cahuzac’s home debut. Florian Thauvin delivered the goods with two assists. Khalis Merah’s late goal was in vain for Paulo Fonseca’s team.

The Match

After a three-week hiatus, Ligue 1 football returned with a mouth-watering game between Lens, winless in their last four Ligue 1 ties, and second-placed Lyon. For his debut at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Yannick Cahuzac, who took over following Dino Toppmöller’s surprise exit, hoped to become the first head coach to defeat Paulo Fonseca’s Les Gones in Ligue 1.

The hosts started quite well in dominating possession. Their positive start could have been rewarded had Dominik Greif not denied Florian Sotoca’s half-volley with a remarkable point-blank save. Lyon could not lay a glove on Lens. They were unable to register a single shot on target in the first half. They were indeed left to contain a rejuvenated and rampant Lens side.

Although Odsonne Edouard had a poor first half, Lens could still rely on 35-year-old Sotoca, who was given a surprise start in the absence of Abdallah Sima, but ahead of Franjo Ivanovic. Sotoca repaid Cahuzac’s faith with a clean half-volley goal after chesting down Florian Thauvin’s cross. The striker became the oldest player to score for the Artois side since… Cahuzac.

Lens could even have regrets given how they missed chances to double their lead. Thauvin drew a top save from Greif just before Edouard lost his one-on-one against the Slovakian keeper, Lyon’s best player in the first half. As for Lens, they were levels above the visitors in termes of shape, tactics and intensity. They looked to have made the most of the international break with Cahuzac at the helm.

Fonseca probably told his players what he felt after a first half this poor. Lyon finally made their presence felt with a couple of chances, but Robin Risser proved alert. Unfortunately for Les Gones, Loïs Openda limped off the pitch with an injury. The second half proved way more entertaining than the first, given that Lyon eventually put up a fight.

But unlike Lyon, Lens have a player in Thauvin able to bend the game to their will. The France international winger whipped a deep free-kick for Matthieu Udol to escape Zachary Athekame’s marking and head home. With his 15 minutes left to play, Lens looked in the clear, until they weren’t.

In the span of two minutes, Udol was handed a deserved red card for stomping Khalis Merah’s heel, and the diminutive Lyon winger halved the deficit. 10-man Lens had to dig deep to maintain their lead as Lyon piled on the pressure. Eventually, Lens maintained their slender lead to see off a deserved win. Both teams are involved in Europe next season with Lens hosting Sporting CP in the Champions League. Lyon host Crystal Palace in the Europa League.

Lyon player ratings

Dominik Greif – 7

The Slovakian international single-handedly prevented Lyon from shipping, at least three goals, in the first half alone. He’s not to blame for Lens’ two goals.

Abner – 4

Ruben Kluivert – 4

Felix Bacher – 4

Zachary Athekame – 4

Corentin Tolisso – 4

Tyler Morton – 4

The English midfielder struggled to match Lens’ intensity in the midfield. He didn’t bring much going forward, and he didn’t close Thauvin down for Sotoca’s opener.

Mads Bidstrup – 4

Pavel Sulc – 3

The Czech had a nightmare time at Bollaert. He was tasked with dictating Lyon’s attacking phases, and he was nowhere to be found. His pass completion percentage was an awful 50% in the first half.

Loïs Openda – 4

An unhappy return to his former hunting ground for the Belgian striker, who could not find a flaw in Lens’ airtight defense before pulling out with an injury.

Ernest Nuamah – 4

Selected Lens player ratings

Ismaëlo Ganiou – 7

The 21-year-old remains an assured presence at the back for Lens and a promising blend of pace and physicality. He may be Ligue 1’s best young French centre-back, and surely the best prospect from Lens Academy since Raphaël Varane. Made a brilliant intervention to thwart Nakamura when Lyon chased an equaliser.

Michaël Cuisance – 6

Florian Thauvin – 7

The France international remains Lens’ X factor. Heavily involved in both Lens goals, he has now logged ten goal contributions in six Ligue 1 games. He stakes his claim as Ligue 1’s outright best player. More than a leader.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval