In a thrilling match at the Stade de France, Lens narrowly beat Nantes 2-1 on Sunday evening. The victory was crucial for Lens, who now sits in fourth place in Ligue 1, just one point behind third-placed Paris Saint-Germain.
The match started with both teams looking to establish their dominance early on, but it was Lens who took the lead through a well-taken goal from forward Maxence Lopes. The Brazilian forward's powerful shot found the back of the net and gave Lens the lead before half-time.
Nantes, however, refused to give up and fought hard to get back into the game. They created several chances in the second half, including a penalty corner where they were denied by Lens goalkeeper Romain Hamouma. Despite this, Nantes could not find the equalizer and had to settle for a draw.
Despite the defeat, Nantes' manager Marc-Vivien Foé praised his team's efforts and said that they will continue to fight until the end of the season. He also acknowledged the importance of keeping top four status, which would ensure their spot in next season's Europa League.
For Lens, the win is a big boost as they look to maintain their position in the league table. The victory over Nantes was a much-needed morale booster after a disappointing start to the season. With a strong performance against Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon in the coming weeks, Lens can be confident of maintaining their current position in the league table.
Overall, it was a closely contested match between two strong teams, and it will be interesting to see how things play out in the remaining matches of the season.