Lens have beaten PSG and sent a warning to the rest of Ligue 1

After only just beating Strasbourg last week thanks to a late penalty scored by Kylian Mbappé, PSG went into their match against Lens on Sunday in far from the best shape. In addition to Lionel Messi, the visitors were also missing the suspended Neymar, sent off against Strasbourg, and the injured trio of Nuno Mendes, Renato Sanches and Presnel Kimpembe. But focusing on PSG’s absentees does Lens and the magnetic Franck Haise a massive disservice. The story of Lens’ 3-1 victory was not about PSG losing – rather it was about Lens winning.

Lens were unlucky to miss out on a place in Europe this season after Nantes’ shock victory in the Coupe de France final. They have largely kept faith with the same team as last season, resisting overtures for most of their top players. There have been some changes, with the Ghana international Salis Abdul Samed coming in for Cheick Doucouré in midfield, and Przemyslaw Frankowski replacing Jonathan Clauss, as well as some canny buys, such as Loïs Openda and goalkeeper Brice Samba – who was heroic against PSG. The results have continued to pay dividends.

Many fans and clubs in France expressed dissatisfaction about having to play over the festive season, but Lens were up for their match against PSG, a contest that had likely been circled on the calendar since the Ligue 1 fixtures were released. The match was also cause for celebration as it marked Haise’s 100th in charge of the club.

It was also honoured by the club’s kit provider, Puma, who created a burnt gold kit for the hosts. The shirt was emblazoned with Lens’ logo from the 1950s, with a mining lamp prominently displayed and the names of local mines a subtle motif in the background. The kit, designed to honour Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners – a profession closely associated with the north of France – had a toned-down palette compared to the usual bright yellow and red, but Lens’ performance, and the ebullience of Haise, was anything but subdued.

At the end of the match, Haise and his players stayed on the pitch at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis and celebrated with the overjoyed crowd. Haise led the chant: “Olélé, olala, mais qu’est-ce qui s’est passé? On les a chicotés!” Roughly translated, it asks the rhetorical question “what happened?” and then answers with a resounding declaration: “We rattled them!” The atmosphere in Lens is always stirring, but the noise of the crowd was matched by Haise’s passion after the match and his players’ efforts during the contest, even while they were missing long-term absentees David Da Costa and Jimmy Cabot.

Lens rattled PSG from the start, getting stuck in with all the energy needed to shake down their opponents. There were also gaffes aplenty from Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal, the Italian flapping at Massadio Haïdara’s cutback before Frankowski prodded home in the fifth minute to open the scoring. The goalkeeper probably could have done more to stop Openda from doubling Lens’ lead with a canny finish later in the first half, but that would be taking credit away from the Belgian’s marksmanship and an inch-perfect, defence-splitting ball from Seko Fofana, moments after the Ivorian had left a pair of opponents for dead.

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This is not a new story for Haise. He has taken charge of Lens in five games against PSG and they have only lost one of them. Haise has similarly strong records against Marseille, Monaco and Rennes; this is a manager whose ability to motivate his team for a big match should never be underestimated, even as he will surely chafe at the memory of the only loss his side have suffered this season, in the derby against Lille.

Their goalless draw against a blunt Nice side last week was frustrating, but they were far better on Sunday evening. To a man, Lens pressed, harried and hounded PSG throughout. Samba had to produce some moments of magic to keep out PSG, but his team’s third goal was sumptuous. Openda’s nonchalant backheel to Alexis Claude-Maurice was perfect, underscoring Lens’ considerable talent going forward.

Lens are just as impressive at the back. They defended for their lives in the second half as each of the back three – Jonathan Gradit, Kevin Danso and Facundo Medina – turned in stellar performances, a reminder that this team does not have the league’s best defence by accident. More tests will come, and a title challenge is probably not in the offing until they edge just a little bit closer to PSG. But, for the moment, Lens look like the best, most consistent team in the league, expertly combining sparkling play on the counter with resolute defending. This result put that on full display. As Haise said after the match: “This victory shows that we can beat everyone in the league, even PSG, and do so with style!”

Talking points

Monaco look to be rumbling toward the top three. After an uneven start to the season, they have won nine of their last 12 matches and are just three points off Marseille in third. Youngster Eliesse Ben Seghir was in fine form again after his double against Auxerre, but it was Aleksandr Golovin who made the difference against Brest. The Russian was the game’s only goalscorer and has been involved in a goal in each of his last five matches in the league, and his improvement was singled out for praise by Philippe Clement, his manager, post-match. Monaco have plenty of attacking options, but the maverick quality of Golovin’s play is yet another arrow in their quiver.

Things are getting increasingly uncomfortable in Strasbourg, as the hosts were stung late on once again, this time by Troyes. After a summer in which they held on to the likes of Ludovic Ajorque and Alexander Djiku, hoping for a tilt at Europe, the team are second-bottom, without a win at home this season, and a visit from Lens is next. Strasbourg have scored more goals and conceded fewer than the other three sides in the relegation zone, with just one loss fewer than Lyon in eighth, but if these narrow results don’t start to turn, changes could well be afoot at La Meinau.

Lyon increased that number of losses against Clermont this weekend, and an injury to Alexandre Lacazette will hardly have done the stress levels of Laurent Blanc much good either. Already missing Corentin Tolisso, Houssem Aouar and full-backs Malo Gusto and Henrique, the team do have options, but their stated goal of a return to Europe is looking less likely by the week.