RC Lens 4-0 FC Nantes

https://www.ligue1.com/match?matchId=71720

THE MATCH

Nantes started brightly with Quentin Merlin's early half-volley forcing Brice Samba into a fine low save (11'). Matthis Abline - preferred in attack to the returning Mostafa Mohamed - then headed Florent Mollet's cross narrowly past Samba's post (19'). It wasn't until midway through the first half that Lens conjured their first chance on goal, Elye Wahi getting in behind before his shot was turned out for a corner by Alban Lafont (23'). It was still somewhat against the run of play, then, when Lens opened the scoring. Adrien Thomasson drew a penalty from Jean-Charles Castelletto and Sotoca stepped up to convert (27'). Samuel Moutoussamy perhaps should have drawn Nantes level when he miscued with the goal at his mercy (36') and Wahi missed another chance at the other end (40') before Pierre Gaillouste's whistle for half-time went with the score at 1-0.

Sotoca makes sure

Neither manager made any changes at the break but Lens continued to grow in influence after the restart and they doubled their lead inside the hour when Facundo Medina fired home on his weaker right foot from the edge of the area (58'). Nantes coach Pierre Aristouy soon made a double change, with Mohamed and Kader Bamba replacing Abline and Moses Simon (60'), but the very next chance was Lens', with Wahi again foiled by Lafont (61'). Sotoca then doubled Lens' advantage, this time sending Lafont the wrong way from the spot after Castelletto had handballed Morgan Guilavogui's shot (72'). Angelo Fulgini has a cross-turned shot sail just off target (81') before Neil El Aynaoui added gloss to the scoreline (89') as it ended 4-0 to Lens.

THE PLAYER: Florian Sotoca

Sotoca scored two penalties either side of teeing Medina up for the second, taking him up to seven goal-involvements from his 10 games this season. His goals moved him up to 32 with in total with Lens across Ligue 1 Uber Eats and Ligue 2 BKT, making him les Sang et Or's top scorer since the turn of the century.

THE STAT: 1

Lens have only lost one of their least 11 home games against in Nantes in all competitions. The last time les Canaris left the Stade Bollaert-Delelis with all three points was back in March 2013, when Fabrice Pancrate scored in injury time to snatch a 2-1 win.