PLAYER RATINGS | Le Mans 2-2 Lens: Les Lensois fight back to deny Le Mans first win

PLAYER RATINGS | Le Mans 2-2 Lens: Les Lensois fight back to deny Le Mans first win Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 4, 13/09/2026 RC Lens fought back to clinch a draw away to Le Mans FC (2-2), denying the newly promoted side a first win in the top flight since 2010. The Match Despite snatching a last-gasp winner in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday, RC Lens have looked off the pace these last few weeks. The summer appointment, Dino Toppmöller, has seen his side lose their last two Ligue 1 games, and their sluggish form looked set to continue.  Le Mans looked like everything Lens expected to be: fast-paced and devastating on the counter. There were a couple of warning shots as Lucas Calodat and Rayan Bamba looked to set up Dame Guèye. The opener would instead come from midfielder Adil Bourabaa, who headed the ball over the line to finish a scrambling attack.  Florian Thauvin should have levelled the scores late in the half, but his shot was stopped by a brilliant save from Ewan Hatfout. Le Mans wasted no time punishing Lens for the missed opportunity and went down the other end and scored via Calodat. Le Mans could taste their first victory in Ligue 1 since 2010, when Abdallah Sima headed home Thauvin’s cross in first-half injury time.  Toppmöller wasted no time making a triple change during the break. Odsonne Édouard, Michaël Cuisance, and Michał Skóraś made way for Franjo Ivanovic, Amadou Haidara, and the 16-year-old Mezian Mesloub. The impact was immediate as Ivanovic headed home Aguilar’s cross to level the scores.  Lens looked much improved, with the changes proving to be a shot in the arm, but Le Mans still threatened on the break. It would take a vital intervention from the second-half substitute Jean-Clair Todibo to prevent Louis Mafouta from linking up with his strike partner Guèye, and to prevent a clear opportunity for Le Mans to restore the lead.  Lens were awarded a penalty late in the game when Thorgan Hazard was fouled by Djibril Sidibé. However, the contact was made outside of the box, and the decision was changed to a free kick. Hazard, at the set-piece, fired towards goal, but was denied by the crossbar.  Lens Player Ratings Robin Risser, 6 Matthieu Udol, 5 Kyllian Antonio, 6 Jonathan Gradit, 3 Michał Skóraś, 3 Replaced by Mezian Mesloub (6) at half-time. Andrija Bulatović, 6 Michaël Cuisance, 3 Bought in the summer as Adrien Thomasson’s replacement, Michaël Cuisance’s return to France has been disappointing so far. He doesn’t add much control to the game. His defensive work is fine, but not the best. And he has so far failed to make an impact on the attack. Replaced by Amadou Haidara (6) at half-time. Ruben Aguilar, 6 Florian Thauvin, 7 Odsonne Édouard, 3 A first start for the striker this season, and it was a disappointing return. He looked largely uninvolved. His best moment came when he fluffed his lines trying to flick the ball onto Sima, missing contact and therefore letting it run for the winger to head home. Replaced at half-time by Franjo Ivanovic (6) . Abdallah Sima, 7 Sometimes a player needs a certain manager for everything to come together. That looks to be the case with Sima under Toppmöller. The forward was a useful player last season, but usually as a Swiss Army knife that could come on and do a job. He now looks to be one of the main men in the attack. His mobility has been a clear boon. Selected Le Mans Player Ratings Ewan Hatfout, 6 Lucas Calodat, 7 Louis Mafouta, 5 It was three goals in three games coming into this match. The striker was far more involved in the link-up play than in getting into positions where he could finish. GFFN  |  Nick Hartland