Florian Thauvin delivered a standout performance as RC Lens cruised to a 5-1 victory over Angers SCO, reclaiming top spot in Ligue 1. The result moved them two points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, although their rivals still have two matches to play.
Lens had seen their title push stumble recently with defeats against Lorient and Monaco, but this convincing result reaffirmed their ambitions. Facing an opponent struggling for form, they took full advantage with a commanding showing from start to finish.
The club continues its pursuit of a first league crown since 1998, and this performance suggested renewed momentum after a brief dip in results.
Thauvin leads attack with goal and assists
Thauvin opened the scoring in the 13th minute, marking his fourth goal in six appearances and setting the tone early. He then turned provider, assisting Odsonne Edouard for the second goal as Lens quickly established control.
Before the interval, Mamadou Sangare added a third, ensuring the hosts carried a comfortable advantage into halftime. Shortly after the restart, Edouard struck again, finishing a precise pass from Thauvin to extend the lead further.
Angers briefly reduced the deficit through Lanroy Machine, but it had little impact on the overall contest. Matthieu Udol later completed the scoring with an impressive effort, restoring a four-goal margin.
Anger’s struggle continues in uneven campaign
For Angers, the heavy loss continued a difficult run, with the team now having suffered five defeats in their last six league outings. They were unable to match Lens’ intensity and rarely threatened throughout the match.
Despite the setback, they remain in 12th position, comfortably clear of relegation danger but also not in contention for European qualification places. The gap between them and both ends of the table reflects a season marked by inconsistency.
Lens, by contrast, capitalised fully on the opportunity, using their attacking quality and control of the game to secure a decisive result and return to the top of the standings.