AS Saint-Étienne had the better of much of the game at their Stade Geoffroy-Guichard against RC Lens, but Ryad Boudebouz's first-half opener was cancelled out by Florian Sotoca and Seko Fofana late on as it ended 2-1.
AS Saint-Étienne 1-2 RC Lens
THE MATCH
Four points adrift at the bottom of Ligue 1 Uber Eats over the winter break, Saint-Étienne have been busy in the recent transfer window and handed debuts to Paul Bernardoni and Sada Thioub. Les Verts certainly looked to be gelling quickly when Thioub slipped the overlapping Yvann Maçon in for a chance on goal, but Jean-Louis Leca denied the right-back from a tight angle (7'). Bernardoni was the next to shine for Sainté, tipping a Jonathan Clauss free-kick over the bar in a rare first-half chance for Lens (25'). The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and were another Leca save away from making it 1-0 when Boudebouz sent Mahdi Camara clear with a clever set piece (36'). The deadlock was then broken minutes later, Thiuob finding Adil Aouchiche out wide who in turn crossed for Boudebouz to finish at the back post (38').
Lens leveller
Lens looked livelier after the restart, though, a half-time rollicking from Franck Haise no doubt ringing in their ears, and they shut down their opponents well until the hour, after which point Florian Sotoca and Corentin Jean were thrown into the fray for Wesley Saïd and Przemyslaw Frankowski (62'). But Sainté looked to have found new solutions for the change in formation opposite them and Boudebouz thumped another free-kick into Leca's gloves (64') before teeing up Lucas Gourna-Douath with a gilt-edged chance to open his account for the club, the youngster ultimately foiled by the visiting 'keeper (72'). It was somewhat against the run of play, then, when Sotoca made it 1-1, powerfully heading home a Clauss corner (77'). Les Sang et Or sensed blood from there, though, and they snatched the win deep into injury time when a Fofana cracker left Bernardoni with no chance (90'+5).
THE PLAYER: Sada Thioub
This was a fine performance from Thioub. Drafted in on loan from Angers SCO, the Senegal winger wrought havoc from the right of Saint-Étienne's front three, pre-assisted the opener and ran Lens left-back Facundo Medina ragged before making way inside the hour. Might the hosts have prevailed if he was match fit enough to play the 90 minutes here?
THE STAT: 6
Saint-Étienne have now gone six Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches without victory, an unwanted run stretching back to November when they beat promoted ESTAC Troyes 1-0 at the Stade de l'Aube. There were shoots of promise here, though, and although they remain five points from outright safety, it's not yet safe to bet against the 10-time French champions preserving their top-flight status.