Thauvin stars as Lens thump Angers to leapfrog PSG in Ligue 1 again

[p]Looking to get their surprise title challenge back on track after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Lorient last week, [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lens/IBmris38/"]Lens[/a] made a promising start as a quick throw caught [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/angers/SAlF91iL/"]Angers[/a] off-guard, leading to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abdulhamid-saud/OOentN4R/"]Saud Abdulhamid[/a] nodding on a bouncing ball for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thauvin-florian/SMbMSc26/"]Thauvin[/a] to finish expertly from close range. [/b][/p][p]The hosts were looking dangerous as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edouard-odsonne/0nQoakto/"]Odsonne Edouard[/a] passed up a golden chance to convert from inside the six-yard box, but just moments later, the forward doubled his side’s advantage.[/p][p][b]A loose pass from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/camara-ousmane/QmeOgogH/"]Ousmane Camara[/a] was seized upon by Thauvin, allowing the forward to play a first-time ball to Edouard, who nutmegged his marker with one touch before dinking over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pona-oumar/v3msJieJ/"]Oumar Pona[/a] with another, [/b]meaning he has now struck before half-time in 10 of his 11 scoring appearances this season.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="87d37df3-5b32-4970-b41c-2f499ac1326f" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="b99443d5-df73-4337-9ba0-364b8007ad97" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sbai-mohamed-amine/0ERxiKEk/"]Amine Sbai[/a] threatened at the other end, but after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sangare-mamadou/fycPEpMH/"]Mamadou Sangare[/a] had forced Pona to tip onto his crossbar, the midfielder extended Lens’ lead with a strike from range that flew into the top-right corner. [/b][/p][p][b]And just three minutes after the break, Edouard made it four, receiving a delightful threaded pass from Thauvin before faking a shot and slotting past Pona. [/b][/p][p]Nonetheless, Angers bagged a consolation after 62  minutes, as Lanroy Machine adjusted well to turn in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rao-lisoa-lilian/dlgWt8kH/"]Lilian Raolisoa[/a]’s low, driven cross.[/p][p][b]However, the goal of the night arguably came from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/udol-matthieu/AuzyopRB/"]Matthieu Udol[/a], who acrobatically stretched to guide home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sima-abdallah/xzssoNnp/"]Abdallah Sima[/a]’s lofted cross on the volley, in what proved to be the last meaningful action as Pierre Sage’s side coasted to an emphatic win.[/b][/p][embed guid="f8218d39-770b-4af8-b6e9-3553a2a01610" url="https://x.com/Ligue1_ENG/status/2035104110614389161" social-type="twitter" /][p]Dreaming of a first Ligue 1 triumph since 1997/98, Lens have now won 13 of their last 14 games against sides starting the match in the bottom half of the table.[/p][p]An identical record in their last 14 encounters at Stade Bollaert-Delelis highlights why Les Sang et Or currently find themselves two points clear of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a], albeit having played two more games.[/p][p]Meanwhile, Angers are yet to beat a top-eight side this season (D3, L9), leaving hopes of a first top-half finish since 2015/16 looking increasingly fanciful. After five defeats in six league outings, Les Scoïstes find themselves 12th in midtable obscurity.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thauvin-florian/SMbMSc26/"]Florian Thauvin[/a] (Lens)[/b][/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="34500c8e-b47f-4b24-bd2e-c7fafc57563d" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="d2df71c3-0b02-4a50-9a97-c3604513e376" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/angers-SAlF91iL/lens-IBmris38/summary/stats/?mid=vgQi3gRP"]Catch up on the stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]