Lens’ Florian Thauvin celebrates scoring their fifth aim with Thorgan Hazard in opposition to Auxerre at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens. Picture: REUTERS
LENS, FRANCE:
Lens captain Florian Thauvin scored two penalties as Lens thumped Auxerre 5-2 of their first recreation of the French Ligue 1 season on Saturday.
Thauvin transformed from the spot both facet of the break because the northerners continued their good kind from final season once they completed second within the desk behind Paris Saint-Germain.
Final weekend, German coach Dino Toppmoeller received his first aggressive recreation in command of Lens, beating PSG within the French Champions Trophy.
“Crucial factor was to win, and to begin the season properly,” defender Matthieu Udol instructed reporters.
“It was additionally essential to again up final week’s end result.”
Auxerre had defender Christ Massoko despatched off within the first half for a foul on Lens attacker Abdallah Sima.
Thauvin, a World Cup winner in 2018, opened the scoring after simply 12 minutes after Belgian midfielder Arthur Piedfort dealt with the ball within the hosts’ field.
Thauvin’s low end despatched the packed Stade Bollaert crowd wild earlier than the guests have been down a person as Massoko noticed pink 10 minutes earlier than the interval.
Lens continued to dominate within the solar after the break as new boy Franjo Ivanovic opened his account for Les Sang et Or on 49 minutes.
The Croatia worldwide fed Sima on the sting of the field earlier than his assault accomplice returned the go to seek out the 22-year-old, who easily completed previous Mamadou Diop.
5 minutes later, Thauvin turned the supplier, establishing winger Saud Abdulhamid earlier than Danny Namaso lower the deficit simply earlier than the hour mark with a penalty of his personal.
Defender Ismael Ganiou re-established a three-goal cushion with 24 minutes left, then Lamine Sy claimed a comfort for Auxerre earlier than Thauvin slotted his second penalty two minutes from time.
Afterward Saturday, newly-promoted Le Mans, backed by a consortium together with Actual Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and tennis star Novak Djokovic, drew 2-2 with Brest of their first top-flight recreation since 2010.
Tributes paid to Eric Roy
Brest winger Romain Del Castillo equalised within the first half as dwelling and away followers chanted the title of former Brest boss Eric Roy, who died from most cancers in June.
Le Mans followers additionally unfurled a banner saying “Relaxation in peace Eric Roy” throughout the pre-organised minute of singing.
“I do not normally take heed to noise off the sector however I heard the tribute to the coach,” Brest midfielder Joris Chotard instructed Ligue 1+ after the membership’s first aggressive recreation since Roy’s loss of life.
“Scoring then was a head nod to the coach. We all know properly that each one the matches we play usually are not only for us.”
Troyes, who got here up as Ligue 2 champions, have been held to a goalless draw by Paris FC in Liam Rosenior’s first league recreation in command of the facet from the capital.
Lyon received 2-0 at Toulouse regardless of making sweeping modifications to their line-up with subsequent week’s Champions League play-off second leg with Fenerbahce in thoughts.
Champions PSG start their tilt at a record-extending fifteenth French top-flight title at Rennes within the choose of Sunday’s matches.
On Friday, Algeria ahead Amine Gouiri scored twice as Marseille beat Strasbourg 4-0 within the opening recreation of the marketing campaign.
Substitute Keyliane Abdallah and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made positive of the three factors for Bruno Genesio’s facet late on to increase Marseille’s unbeaten league run over the Alsatians stretching again to 1997.