Ligue 1 Roundup: Lens Holds Top Spot As PSG Smashes Rennes And Chaos Escalates At Nice

‎Ligue 1 delivered another enthralling weekend of football, marked by clinical finishing from Lens, a statement win by Paris Saint-Germain, and growing turmoil both on and off the pitch for a struggling Nice side.

‎Lens Hold Firm at the Top

‎Lens maintained their position at the summit of Ligue 1 with a determined 2-1 victory over Nantes on Saturday.

‎The win extended their impressive run to five straight victories and kept them ahead of their closest rivals, Paris Saint-Germain. Lens have not led the league at this stage of the season for over two decades, making their current form even more significant.

‎Thauvin’s Revival Continues

‎Florian Thauvin’s revival has been one of the standout stories of the season. The 2018 World Cup winner opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a well-timed header from Ruben Aguilar’s accurate cross, continuing his excellent run since returning from Udinese.

‎Now with five goals and two assists in 15 league matches, his rejuvenated performances have earned him a long-awaited recall to the French national team after six years away.

‎Nantes Equalise but Lens Have the Last Word

‎Nantes responded quickly after Matthias Abline was fouled in the box. Youssef El-Arabi stepped up to take the penalty, and although Robin Risser initially parried his effort, the veteran forward reacted quickly to score from the rebound.

‎Lens refused to settle for a point and continued pushing forward until Wesley Saïd found the winner in the 81st minute, converting a cut-back from Matthieu Udol to secure all three points.

‎PSG delivers a Five-Star Response

‎After their recent setback against Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain returned home eager to send a message.

‎They did exactly that with a commanding 5-0 win over Rennes at the Parc des Princes, producing one of their most complete performances of the season heading into their Champions League trip to Athletic Bilbao.

‎Rennes Threaten Early Before PSG Take Control

‎Rennes created the first major chance of the match when Esteban Lepaul forced Matveï Safonov into a superb save, with the goalkeeper tipping the ball onto the post.

‎The scare sparked PSG into life, and they quickly found their rhythm. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finished off a swift break to open the scoring, easing any early nerves in the stadium.

‎Kvaratskhelia Leads the Charge

‎Kvaratskhelia proved to be a constant threat throughout the match. He added a second goal in the second half, showcasing the sharpness and creativity that have made him a key figure in PSG’s attack.

‎Between his two strikes, Senny Mayulu stepped up to score PSG’s second of the night, further strengthening their grip on the match.

‎Mbaye Steals the Spotlight

‎The most memorable moment of the night belonged to 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye. With the match already leaning heavily in PSG’s favour, the teenager produced a stunning strike from outside the box that sailed into the top corner.

‎It was a breathtaking goal that instantly announced his arrival on the big stage. Gonçalo Ramos added a fifth in stoppage time, completing an emphatic win for the champions.

‎Nice’s Crisis Deepens On and Off the Pitch

‎While PSG celebrated, Nice found themselves sinking deeper into a club-wide crisis.

‎After last week’s defeat to Lorient, players were confronted by angry supporters at the training ground in an altercation that reportedly turned violent. Jérémie Boga and Terem Moffi were said to have suffered blows to the head and groin during the incident, raising serious concerns about player safety.

‎A Symbolic yet Troubled Matchday for Nice

‎In solidarity with the attacked players, Nice’s squad took the pitch wearing jerseys featuring the names of either Boga or Moffi instead of their own.

‎Despite the show of unity, jeers rang out from the home crowd from the opening whistle. Angers capitalised on the tense atmosphere, with Yassin Belkhdim scoring in the 33rd minute.

‎Nice’s hopes evaporated early in the second half when Tom Louchet received a red card for a foul on Jacques Ekomié. The 1-0 defeat marked Nice’s seventh consecutive loss in all competitions and intensified concerns about the team’s direction both on and off the field.

‎Elsewhere in Ligue 1

‎Toulouse ended a six-match winless run with a narrow victory over Strasbourg, thanks to a decisive finish from Brazilian striker Emerson. The result lifted Toulouse to ninth place while leaving Strasbourg just ahead.

‎Meanwhile, Lille’s 1-0 win over Marseille on Friday allowed them to move level with their opponents on points, with both teams now trailing Lens in the chase for European qualification.