Lens conceded their first defeat of the season by losing to Lille (1-0). Find the Tops and Flops of this derby.
TOPS
The two parades of Knight
Hot during this derby, the Lille supporters found themselves a hero in the person of Lucas Chevalier. The young doorman of the Mastiffs, little used, nevertheless pulled out all the stops twice. First decisive at the start of the match, pushing back the crushed penalty from Sotoca (15th), he then made an exceptional save on a missile from Claude-Maurice, which took the path of the skylight (70th). A job very well done for the new incumbent at the Mastiffs, after Jardim’s failed start to the season.
André’s activity in the middle
Within a very pressing Losc, Benjamin André was particularly highlighted. The midfield manager of the 2021 French champions quickly distinguished himself by scratching good balls, while reducing the influence of Fofana in the Lensois game. It was he who obtained, on a corner, the penalty converted by David. Impeccable.
The rise of Ounas
Returned to the right wing of the Lille attack, Adam Ounas first started this derby timidly, before returning transfigured on returning from the locker room. The former Neapolitan, who could have doubled the bet against Samba (48th), multiplied the raids in his lane where he regularly took over Machado and especially Medina. In the legs, he was also precious in his pressing and his folds. Like his authoritarian intervention in his own area, on the very last ball of the match.
FLOPS
Lens rate son derby
The Lensoise invincibility will therefore have lasted nine matches. Author of a fully successful start to the season, in results and in play, the RCL suffered its first setback of the season at the end of this derby. A logical defeat. Embarrassed by Lille’s pressing, Franck Haise’s men fell into approximation over the minutes, and clearly suffered the law of their rivals in the second half. Too uninspired and fair offensively to hope to surprise the vigilance of a solid Lille block until the end.
The failure of Sotoca
One of the symbols of the failed match of the Blood and Gold. Logically beaten, Lens nevertheless obtained a huge opportunity to open the scoring, on a penalty obtained by Machado. An offering for Sotoca, accustomed to the exercise. But this time, the northern striker completely wasted this opportunity, sending a shot too crushed, and finally repelled by Chevalier (15th). Ineffective, the 31-year-old did not influence the game enough and logically displayed a disappointed look on the bench after his exit in the second half.
