Lyon and Lens returned to Ligue 1 action following the international break looking to secure all three points at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The visitors only had one win to their name before the match against Les Sang et Or – that came against Strasbourg following another comeback from two goals down to win 4-3. The Racing club have started the season in better form with 7 points from their opening three matches.
OL thought they had gained the lead through Gift Orban after Lacazette unselfishly played the ball to his strike partner. However, it turned out to be the wrong decision as the Nigerian forward was in an advanced position with the goal ruled out for offside. Despite this chance, the opening stages of the game were rather even with possession ebbing and flowing.
Abner had a good opportunity after a nice move from Lyon but his effort was parried away Brice Samba between the posts for Lens. In the 32nd minute, Lacazette had a glorious chance to put the ball in the back of the net but his powerful effort was straight at the Les Sang et Or stopper with the search for his first goal of the season continuing. Machado hit a powerful effort but Perri was able to palm it over the bar with Lens growing in confidence. It remained goalless at the break.
Da Costa almost gave the hosts the lead after the break but a last ditch challenge from Niakhaté denied the attacking midfielder. Orban had the ball in the back of the net once again but he was again denied by the offside flag. Jordan Veretout and Georges Mikautadze were then called upon by Sage as Lyon continued to search for a winner.
A second-half substitute, Labeau-Lascary almost found the net for Lens with a curling effort but the game remained goalless. Lens had a late chance to score a winner but Perri was able to get behind the shot and the game ended in a goalless draw.
Lens player ratings:
Brice Samba – 6
Przemysław Frankowski – 5
Jonathan Gradit – 6
Facundo Medina – 6
Deiver Machado – 6, The Colombian was involved in a great battle with Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the left flank and often got forward when possible. In attacking areas, Machado looked effective and one of the more present creative forces for Will Still’s side.
Adrien Thomasson – 6
Andy Diouf – 6
Florian Sotoca – 5
Wesley Saïd – 4, The French forward was largely quiet on the night. Not for the want of trying, but the 29-year-old struggled to find himself in goalscoring positions and was the figurehead of a goalshy Lens performance on the night.
Lyon player ratings:
Lucas Perri – 6
Clinton Mata – 6
Duje Ćaleta-Car – 6
Moussa Niakhaté – 6
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6
Maxence Caqueret – 5
Nemanja Matić – 5
Corentin Tolisso – 5
Abner – 7, Afforded lots of space on the left flank, the Brazillian was a constant outlet of creativity for the visitors. The former Betis left-back also had a couple of opportunities to score himself and dealt well with the threat posed by Frankowski.
Gift Orban – 6, After his heroics against Strasbourg, the Nigerian was offered another opportunity to impress and he looked lively. With two goals disallowed for offside, Orban looked the most likely to open the scoring before he was replaced by Mikautadze.
Alexandre Lacazette – 4
