Jonathan Clauss provided two assists and notched a goal of his own as Lens thrashed Troyes 4-0 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis to provisionally climb into second place on the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table.
RC Lens 4-0 ESTAC Troyes
THE MATCH:
A sold-out Stade Bollaert-Delelis greeted Lens and Troyes for the opening game of Round 13 with Franck Haise's side looking to bounce back after last weekend's narrow 2-1 defeat at Lyon.
The early exchanges indicated that Troyes were prepared to play on the front foot, but that idea was quickly scampered when Lens superbly carved their way through the visitors' defence with devastating impact.
Deadlock broken
Superb interchange between Wesley Saïd and Jonathan Clauss gave striker Arnaud Kalimuendo the simple task of a close-range finish (14') to put the hosts in front.
The goal thrust Lens into top gear and Troyes struggled to find a way to deal with the movement of strike duo Kalimuendo and Saïd as well as Clauss' threat from wide areas.
Lens actively pushed for a two-goal cushion whilst Troyes tried to soak up the intense pressure in hope that they could make it to half time without further conceding.
Their hopes were quickly dashed when Jonathan Clauss grabbed his second assist of the evening, delivering a pinpoint cross which was superbly volleyed home by Wesley Saïd (30').
Troyes were on the ropes, and Clauss missed a golden chance to finish the contest when he blazed over from ten-yards (31').
Clauss shows his class
But Clauss did not have to wait long to rectify his gilt-edged miss, when he headed home the rebound after Wesley Saïd's effort was parried by Troyes 'Keeper Gauthier Gallon (36').
There was no letting up from Franck Haise's men and Troyes were spared further embarrassment when Kalimuendo tapped home from five-yards, only to be denied by an offside flag (42').
The only blemish on a tremendous first half for Lens was an injury suffered by the excellent Saïd, who was replaced by Florian Sotoca (42').
The second half started how the first half ended, with Clauss at the heart of everything Lens were trying to create and he went close with a 25-yard free kick which was superbly saved by Gallon (50'). Gael Kakuta then tried his luck from the same range, but his strike sailed just wide (58').
Relentless Lens
Lens were going for the jugular and Przemysław Frankowski added his name to the rout, tapping home after Gallon had initially blocked Sotoca's effort (60').
Ignatius Ganago was next to try his luck for the hosts but he squandered his chance with just Gallon to beat (72').
With the game dead and buried, Lens comfortably controlled proceedings until the final whistle without subjecting Troyes to any more trauma. The one-sided encounter could and should have been won by a bigger margin.
Franck Haise's men provisionally move in to second place ahead of the international break, whilst Troyes stay in 14th.
THE PLAYER: Jonathan Clauss
Another scintillating performance from Jonathan Clauss was topped off with two assists and a goal as he continues his tremendous form this season. The heartbeat of this entertaining Lens side, Clauss now has three goals to his name this season. Unlucky to have missed out on Didier Deschamps latest France squad, the Lens wing-back did his hopes for an impending future call-up no harm.
THE STAT: 9
Lens' wing-back duo of Jonathan Clauss and Przemysław Frankowski have contributed to nine assists from Lens' 25 goals scored so far this season. Both players have been key to Les Sang et Or's excellent early-season form and will both play a key part as Lens continue their push to be in the shake-up for Champions League football next season.
