Guillaume Issner, Media365, published on Sunday January 5, 2025 at 5:24 p.m.
Beaten by Toulouse (0-1) on Sunday, during the 16th day of Ligue 1, RC Lens marked a serious halt in the race for Europe. Aboukhlal, from the penalty spot, scored the only goal of the match while Lens was down to ten men.
Lens (7th) received Toulouse (9th) this Sunday at the Stade Bollaert, as part of the 16th day of Ligue 1. A meeting at the end of which the Toulouse residents emerged victorious (0-1), to launch with the way the year 2025. The Violets nevertheless had their backs against the wall for a good part of the match although they gave Zakaria Aboukhlal some shivers (16th) then Joshua King (17th) to the Artésiens. The two attackers were frustrated by saves from Hervé Koffi, who started in place of Brice Samba, leaving for Rennes. It was then that RC Lens increased their intensity to create several opportunities.
Lens tried
Przemyslaw Frankowski forced Guillaume Restes to deploy (22nd) then Andy Diouf poorly took a volley at the entrance to the area (33rd). Mbala Nzola then saw his curled shot flee the target (42nd). The score was level at half-time and Lens remained the main player in the match at the start of the second half. Florian Sotoca, however, saw his volley pushed back with a reflex save by Guillaume Restes (57th). The Sang et Or immediately saw the match change. Entering at half-time, David Pereira da Costa wiped his crampon on Djibril Sidibé. He was shown a yellow card until the referee was called by his video assistants.
The video changed the match
The official canceled his warning after viewing the images to send him a red card (61st). Maintaining pressure on the opposing defense then became a perilous mission for the numerically inferior Lensois. A new video call, after a possible foul by Malang Sarr on Zakaria Aboukhlal in the area, punished the locals again. Hakim Ben El Hadj designated the penalty point and Aboukhlal did himself justice by wrong-footing Hervé Koffi (0-1, 73rd). At a confusing end to the match, TFC could have doubled the lead but Yann Gboho came up against Hervé Koffi (79th) and Denis Genreau found the post (83rd). Lens thus sees its series of six victories against Toulouse come to an end. The Toulouse residents, with this victory, move virtually to eighth.
