PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 1-0 Brest: Ruben Aguilar hands Les Sang et Or in quest for Champions League return | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 25, 09/03/24

RC Lens secured a crucial three points against a direct rival for the UEFA Champions League places on Saturday, beating high-flying Stade Brestois thanks to a first-half goal from Ruben Aguilar. Brest rallied late on, but succumbed to their first defeat in 14 matches.

After serving out a touchline ban, Franck Haise suggested that he may remain up in the stands even when his ban was finished in order to get a better perspective of the match. Ultimately, when he was permitted to return to the touchline he did so, but he was back up in the stands again against Brest.

What he saw were two teams very well set, well structured and difficult to break down. It became apparent from the offset, that this game would be decided by efficiency in front of goal. It wasn’t until the 25th minute that either side registered a shot on target. It came from Romain Del Castillo and it was a tepid one.

There would be just two more in the first half and they would both come from Lens, however, only one would represent a clear-cut chance, and it was taken. Nampalys Mendy’s tantalising inswinging cross was glanced on by an unmarked Elye Wahi, however, he didn’t get enough on it, with the ball ricocheting off the face of the post. Aguilar, however, was perfectly placed to head from the rebound; it was his first goal in three and a half years, and it looked to be a crucial one in their quest for European football.

Both teams retained their solid defensive structure in the second half, although it was the visitors who had the better of the chances. Steve Mounié had a quiet night, but his near-post flicked header deserved to be turned, but no teammate was to be seen and the ball flew harmlessly across the face of goal.

It wasn’t until the 63rd minute that Samba was truly tested. Hugo Magnetti hit a volley well from the edge of the box, however, it was too close to the France international goalkeeper, who nonetheless was well-placed to parry. Samba would get more busy as the night progressed.

Lens survive late barrage

Substitutions midway through the half impacted on the rhythm of the game, and Brest were the benefactor. Martin Satriano replaced Mounié and he had two huge chances to draw Les Ty Zéfs level. His first effort came after good work by Kenny Lala down the right-hand side. The Uruguayan’s first-time effort got a slight deflection off Jonathan Gradit, which was enough to save the goal and see it ricochet off the post.

Satriano then popped up just seconds later. He was once again unmarked and once again his effort was deflected. This time, it was a header, which came off Aguilar, wrongfooting Samba, who somehow sat on the ball and prevented it from sneaking over the line. However, Lens held on and secured a victory that lifts them to fourth. Regardless of results elsewhere this weekend, Brest will remain second, but should AS Monaco beat RC Strasbourg Alsace, they will go within one point of Eric Roy’s men.

Lens player ratings

Brice Samba – 6

Abdukodir Khusanov – 5

Kevin Danso – 5

Jonathan Gradit – 6

A clean and error-free performance from the former amateur footballer. He crucially flung himself at Satriano’s effort late in the second half, making a block that was worth a goal.

Przemyslaw Frankowski – 5

Nampalys Mendy – 7

Influential in midfield and showed a good range of passing. His directness allowed Lens to get up the pitch and his ball into Wahi for the only goal of the game was perfect for Wahi. It warranted an assist, but it at least led to a goal.

Neil El-Aynaoui – 5

Ruben Aguilar – 7

David Pereira Da Costa – 5

Elye Wahi – 5

Florian Sotoca – 7

Offensively, it was an untypically timid performance from Sotoca, but as is often the case, his worth is measured more in terms of what he does off the ball. In this sense, Sotoca was highly influential, winning 16 duels on the night, whilst in rare transitional moments, he had a dangerous verticality to his dribbles.

Brest player ratings

Marco Bizot – 5

Bradley Locko – 6

Lilian Brassier – 5

Brendan Chardonnet – 6

Kenny Lala – 6

Mahdi Camara – 5

Pierre Lees-Melou – 7

The kind of display that we have become accustomed to seeing from the former Norwich City man, even if it was an unfamiliar result for this high-flying Brest side. Lees-Melou completed an impressive 94% of his passes, won 10 out of his 14 duels and provided one key pass.

Hugo Magnetti – 5

Jérémy Le Douaron – 5

Steve Mounié – 4

Romain Del Castillo – 4

GFFN | Luke Entwistle