Newly promoted Lens are up to seventh in Ligue 1 – and they have a game in hand on the teams above them
By Adam White and Eric Devin for Get French
Football News
In our first article of the season, we were quick to praise the two promoted sides, Lens and Lorient. Both had spent heavily, their budgets increased by Ligue 1’s new television deal, which has since collapsed – Lens even broke their transfer record twice, signing Ignatius Ganago then Séko Fofana as part of a summer net spend that exceeded €20m. But while Lorient – under the normally steady hand of Christophe Pélissier – have faded badly, winning just one of their last eight matches (against an injury-hit Nîmes last weekend), Lens have come to grips with life in the top flight in a way that looks as impressive and sustainable four months on as it did on the opening weekend of the season. The latest evidence came on Wednesday night as they beat Monaco 3-0.
In that initial article, we suggested that Lens’ front-foot style and the bellicose atmosphere at the Stade Félix-Bollaert could help them avoid relegation comfortably. After winning four of their first six matches – including a famous result against PSG – it looked like they might flatter to deceive. Ganago, whose early goalscoring form had been so impressive, was forced off with an ankle injury against Saint Étienne and reports suggested he would be out for up to two months.