Lens beat Auxerre 5-2 in Ligue 1, turning an early penalty into a clear home win after Auxerre were reduced to ten men. F. Thauvin scored twice from the spot, and the hosts pulled away once the second half opened up.

Match Summary

Lens were in front after 12 minutes, F. Thauvin converting a penalty at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Auxerre stayed within a goal until C. Makosso was sent off in the 35th minute. The visitors reached the interval a goal and a man down, and the rest of the afternoon was played on those terms.

The home side struck twice just after the restart. F. Ivanovic finished from an A. Sima assist, and S. Abdulhamid added another with F. Thauvin the provider. Auxerre replied from the spot through D. Namaso, only for I. Ganiou to restore the cushion from a M. Skoras pass. L. Sy scored again for the visitors, R. Mandengue assisting, but F. Thauvin's second penalty in the 88th minute closed the scoring at 5-2. Late yellow cards for M. Nawrocki and L. Dioubate came after the result was settled. M. Vernice refereed.

Key Moments

C. Makosso's red card was the hinge. Auxerre had to chase the game a player short for more than 50 minutes, and that shortage framed the second-half swing.

The burst right after half-time mattered because it turned a 1-0 lead into a three-goal cushion before Auxerre could reorganize. When the visitors then scored twice in a short spell, the gap was back to two and Lens still had to manage the close. Thauvin's late penalty removed that pressure and confirmed the official 5-2 scoreline.

Match Statistics

Auxerre had more of the ball, 57 to 43, and won more corners, 7 to 4. The shot count was close, 6 for Lens and 5 for Auxerre, but the hosts put 4 on target while Auxerre managed 1. Expected goals followed the same pattern, 1.92 against 0.17. Each team collected 1 yellow card, and Auxerre finished with 1 red.

What the Result Means

Lens sit third in Ligue 1, with 0 points from 0 matches played and a goal difference of 0. Auxerre are 14th, also on 0 points from 0 matches played and a goal difference of 0.

See also

• Lens vs Auxerre live score
• AltBets live scores
• AltBets tips
• Match recaps