Surprise package Lens will emerge as leaders of the French Ligue 1 this weekend after a 2-1 win over Nantes on Saturday, but Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) remain in the hunt, just one point behind after taking a 5-0 lead over Rennes.
French and European champions PSG traveled to Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League in midweek, fielding a weakened side that beat Rennes 5-0 on Saturday after running out 0-1 in Monaco last weekend.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice as youngster Senny Mayulu, Ibrahim Mbaye and Gonçalo Ramos completed the romp in stoppage time.
The modest northern club Lens, with a large regional support base, climbed to the top for the first time in 21 years last weekend and would remain at the top regardless of PSG’s result.
Lens is at the top with 34 points, PSG has 33 points and Marseille and Lille both have 29 points after Lille won 1-0 against OM on Friday.
Former Marseille and Newcastle attacking midfielder Florian Thauvin set Lens on their way to this fifth straight league win after 34 minutes, and Wesley Saïd scored the winner on 81 after Nantes had drawn level at 38 through Youssef El-Arabi.
Thauvin, 32, won the World Cup with France in 2018 but has largely been in the international wilderness since then. He spent two years with Tigres in Mexico and signed for Lens this season after two solid seasons with Udinese.
He has scored five league goals this season and also scored on his first appearance in France in six years after replacing Kylian Mbappe against Azerbaijan.
After four straight defeats, Nice play Angers at home on Sunday as they look to end their terrible run on the pitch and tensions between the team and supporters off it.
Published on December 7, 2025
