Lens put on a dominant display at the Bollaert-Delelis to breeze past Auxerre with a 5-2 victory. It was one-way traffic for much of the afternoon, with the hosts controlling the tempo and creating plenty of chances. Florian Thauvin was the standout performer, picking up a deserved man-of-the-match rating as he ran the show from his position. Though Lens only held a slender 1-0 lead at the break, they kicked into another gear after the interval and pulled away with three more goals to seal a comprehensive win. Auxerre offered some resistance and managed to find the net twice themselves, but they were ultimately outclassed. Lens had nine shots on target compared to their visitors' four, and their superior quality shone through in the second half. The victory sends Lens climbing up the table with an emphatic statement of intent, while Auxerre will be looking to bounce back quickly after a disappointing afternoon on the road.
The Matchup
Lens 5-2 Auxerre was the final score at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, in a game where Lens did enough across the ninety minutes to deserve the three points. Lens also had the better share of the ball, holding 53% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 12 attempts from Lens against 10 from Auxerre over the course of the game. It was not always comfortable for Lens, and Auxerre pushed for a way back into the game, but the result stood. Games like this can carry real weight later in the season, so this is a scoreline worth remembering. Below is a closer look at how the match broke down, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12' | Lens | Goal — F. Thauvin | 1-0 | |
| 35' | Auxerre | Christ Makosso | 1-0 | |
| 49' | Lens | Goal — F. Ivanovic (assist: A. Sima) | 2-0 | |
| 54' | Lens | Goal — S. Abdulhamid (assist: F. Thauvin) | 3-0 | |
| 61' | Auxerre | Goal — D. Namaso | 3-1 | |
| 62' | Lens | Substitution — F. Ivanovic on, T. Hazard off | 3-1 | |
| 62' | Lens | Substitution — S. Abdulhamid on, M. Skoras off | 3-1 | |
| 66' | Lens | Goal — I. Ganiou (assist: M. Skoras) | 4-1 | |
| 67' | Auxerre | Substitution — R. Faivre on, L. Dioubate off | 4-1 | |
| 67' | Auxerre | Substitution — A. Zossou on, R. Mandengue off | 4-1 | |
| 69' | Auxerre | Goal — L. Sy (assist: R. Mandengue) | 4-2 | |
| 71' | Lens | Substitution — M. Cuisance on, A. Haidara off | 4-2 | |
| 71' | Lens | Substitution — A. Sima on, O. Edouard off | 4-2 | |
| 77' | Auxerre | Substitution — N. Ahamada on, E. Legros off | 4-2 | |
| 77' | Auxerre | Substitution — D. Namaso on, L. Coulibaly off | 4-2 | |
| 79' | Lens | Substitution — I. Ganiou on, A. Bulatovic off | 4-2 | |
| 84' | Lens | Maik Nawrocki | 4-2 | |
| 86' | Auxerre | Lamfia Dioubaté | 4-2 | |
| 87' | Auxerre | Substitution — A. Piedfort on, J. Casimir off | 4-2 | |
| 88' | Lens | Goal — F. Thauvin | 5-2 |
Lens vs Auxerre Lineups
Looking Ahead
Lens will already be turning their attention to what comes next. Their next test comes away at Strasbourg, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when Strasbourg vs Lens going to play at 29 August 2026 in Ligue 1 2026-27.
Auxerre, meanwhile, have a quick chance to build on this result. They are next in action at home to Angers, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Auxerre vs Angers going to play at 29 August 2026 in Ligue 1 2026-27.