On Friday afternoon at the Stade François-Blin, the RC Lens secured a 2-0 victory against Belgian side Standard de Liège in a closed-door friendly match. The fixture provided crucial playing time for returning squad members during the international break.
A Finesse Opener From Odsonne Édouard Sets the Pace
The hosts started with high intensity and an aggressive press that immediately unsettled the visiting defence. According to match reports from rclens.fr, the Sang et Or controlled the opening half-hour and deservedly broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. Striker Odsonne Édouard finished a fluid attacking sequence with a deft touch to score his first goal of the period. La Voix du Nord noted that the strike offered a welcome boost for Édouard, who has yet to find the net in official Ligue 1 McDonald’s play this season.
Standard de Liège deployed a disciplined defensive block that frustrated Lens through the middle stages, but the home side maintained structural stability despite numerous substitutions. The match day also featured a notable family connection on the pitch. According to lensois.com, the Belgian lineup included Rayan Touzghar—who joined Standard during the summer transfer window—marking a unique echo for observers familiar with the Artois training center. Rayan is the half-brother of Yoann Touzghar, the former Tunisian international forward who scored 22 goals for Lens between 2012 and 2015 before finishing his career at Ajaccio.
Yannick Cahuzac Evaluates His Squad After the First Win
With 11 professional players away on international duty with their respective national teams, head coach Yannick Cahuzac fielded a hybrid lineup that finished the contest leaning heavily on academy and reserve squad members. Goalkeepers Robin Risser in the first half and Matthieu Gorgelin in the second made vital saves to preserve the clean sheet.
It was an interesting match,
Cahuzac told club media in comments covered by La Voix du Nord. I think we had a good 20 to 25 opening minutes. Afterwards, we lost the thread a bit and made a lot of changes. It ends a good week where the guys worked really well.
The fixture marked the first victory of Cahuzac’s tenure as head coach, following a draw against Le Mans and a defeat to Monaco in earlier outings. The technical staff utilized the break to reintroduce key personnel returning from long-term injuries. Right-back Saud Abdulhamid logged 30 minutes of action following a lengthy recovery from a severe contusion and subsequent hematoma sustained in August, which forced him to miss the Gulf Cup 27 with the Saudi Arabia national team. Midfielder Yassine Titraoui also picked up 35 to 40 minutes of valuable playing time.
Florian Thauvin Seals the Result From the Penalty Spot
Lens doubled their advantage in the 70th minute when veteran winger Florian Thauvin converted a penalty kick with characteristic composure.
Operating primarily in a 3-4-2-1 tactical framework, the technical staff deliberately avoided pushing returning starters toward the full 90 minutes. Abdulhamid completed additional physical conditioning work after the final whistle, while Jean-Clair Todibo and Thorgan Hazard were left off the match sheet entirely. Samson Baidoo continued his individual athletic rehabilitation program away from the main group.
Upcoming Fixtures in Ligue 1 and Europe
The RC Lens returns to competitive action on Friday, October 9, at Stade Bollaert-Delelis to face Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1 McDonald’s kickoff at 20:45 local time. That domestic clash precedes a crucial UEFA Champions League fixture against Sporting CP scheduled for October 13.
