Lens Open Season with Emphatic Win Over Auxerre in a Goal-Fest at Bollaert-Delelis
Thauvin Brace as Ten Goals Are Shared Between the Two Sides on Opening Day
Lens — Special to GCC Sport
RC Lens began their new Ligue 1 campaign with a resounding 5-2 victory over visiting Auxerre, in a match that turned into an attacking spectacle with seven goals shared across both halves, at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, which welcomed a crowd of 38,115 for the season's opening matchday.
Les Sang et Or entered the fixture carrying huge momentum after being crowned French Super Cup (Trophée des Champions) winners just a week earlier, having stunned Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 despite finishing the match with ten men a result that was clearly reflected in the performance of Dino Toppmöller's side, who gave their visitors no real chance of competing for the result.
An Early Lead from the Penalty Spot
The hosts did not have to wait long to open the scoring, winning an early penalty after a handball by Arthur Piedfort as he attempted to cut out a Lens attack. Star man Florian Thauvin stepped up and confidently converted from the spot in the 12th minute to put Lens ahead.
Lens continued to press throughout the first half, with winger Sima exhausting the Auxerre defense through his relentless pursuit of the ball pressure that ultimately led to defender Christ Makosso being sent off in the 35th minute for another handball during a defensive challenge, leaving Auxerre to play out almost an entire hour with ten men.
Ivanović and Abdulhamid Extend the Lead
Lens capitalized on their numerical advantage early in the second half, as striker Franjo Ivanović converted a close-range chance into a second goal in the 49th minute, following a first half in which he had appeared somewhat wasteful in front of goal. Just five minutes later, Saudi defender Saud Abdulhamid doubled Lens's lead with a well-placed header in the 54th minute, after a VAR check confirmed the goal stood.
Auxerre looked to be heading for a complete collapse, but the visitors managed to pull one back through a Danny Namaso penalty in the 61st minute, before Ismaelo Ganiou restored Lens's three-goal cushion with the hosts' fourth goal in the 66th minute. Auxerre continued to push forward regardless, and Lamine Sy added a second goal for the visitors in the 69th minute on the counterattack.
Thauvin Closes Out the Show with His Second
Florian Thauvin put the finishing touches on the goal-fest by converting a second penalty in the 88th minute, awarded after a foul by defender Diop, capping off an exceptional evening for him with two goals and an assist, and confirming his status as the team's chief creative force at the start of the season.
The closing minutes saw two yellow cards shown — one to Lens's Nawrocki in the 84th minute, and another to Auxerre's Dioubaté in the 86th minute — before the match ended in a deserved win for the home side.
A Look at the Performance
Despite the lopsided scoreline, technical assessments of the match pointed to some defensive fragility and careless spells in possession from Lens, even with their numerical advantage — issues that Toppmöller's coaching staff will need to address. The German coach kept the same starting eleven that won the title against PSG, while handing a debut to young defender Souleymane Sagnan.
For Auxerre, the heavy defeat will prompt manager Will Still — who previously coached Lens himself — to revisit several defensive issues, particularly given that his side lost a man to an early red card that effectively ended any realistic hope of a comeback.
With this win, Lens have begun their season in the best possible fashion, climbing temporarily to second place in the table — an early signal of the club's ambitions this season following their first piece of silverware.
Match Information
Ligue 1 — Matchday 1 | 22 August 2026 | Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens | Attendance: 38,115
Final Score: Lens 5 - 2 Auxerre
Goalscorers: Lens: Florian Thauvin 12' (pen), Franjo Ivanović 49', Saud Abdulhamid 54', Ismaelo Ganiou 66', Florian Thauvin 88' (pen) Auxerre: Danny Namaso 61' (pen), Lamine Sy 69'
Cards: Red card Christ Makosso (Auxerre) 35' | Yellow card — Nawrocki (Lens) 84' | Yellow card Dioubaté (Auxerre) 86'
