PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 3-1 Brest: Les Sang et Or run riot after Radoslaw Majecki sees red | OneFootball

Ligue McDonald’s, Gameweek 3, 29/08/25

Stade Brestois travelled to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in search of their first win of the season, while their hosts RC Lens secured theirs away to Le Havre AC last weekend. Brest held the lead, but a controversial moment would see the game slip away as they fell to a 3-1 defeat.

The Match

Lens set the tempo as they looked to impress their fans ahead of the international break. The hosts rushed forward and littered Radosław Majecki’s goal with shots, but they couldn’t find a way past the Polish international, who had looked nervy in his first two matches for Brest.

It would be the visitors who struck first, scoring on their first shot on target when Jonathan Gradit made a mistake in defence. A poor touch from the defender allowed Ludovic Ajorque to sweep up possession and release Mama Baldé. The winger pushed forward, a quick one-two with Kamory Doumbia let him sprint into the box, fight off Malang Sarr and fire home.

Lens’s teenage striker, Rayan Fofana, had two gilt-edged chances to add to his Ligue 1 tally (which he started last week against Le Havre AC), but he snatched at each opportunity, hitting the crosses first time to the right and out for a goal kick. Wesley Saïd also came close; his header from an Adrien Thomasson cross forcing a reflex save from Majecki.

The game would be hit with controversy when Majecki brought down Fofana, seemingly outside of the box in a clumsy challenge, but a genuine attempt to win the ball. The referee flashed his red, and the goalkeeper made the long walk towards the tunnel. VAR checked the decision and noted that the foul happened inside the box.

However, in what appears to be a glaring oversight, double jeopardy didn’t take effect, and the red card stood despite the penalty. Florian Thauvin stepped up to the spot and fired home for his debut goal with Lens. His shot sneaked underneath the substitute goalkeeper Grégoire Coudert. Lens were finally able to find space behind the Brest defence, but Fofana couldn’t hold his nerve and find the back of the net.

Lens could taste blood, and it would be Fofana’s replacement that found what looked like the winner. Thomasson’s corner was headed out by Ajorque, but only fell as far as Mamadou Sangaré. The midfielder fired his shot into the packed box. The effort was blocked, but the rebound fell to Morgan Guilavogui. He fired home from point-blank range to give Lens the lead. A parting gift for Les Sang et Or ahead of rumoured move to Southampton FC.

Lens kept pushing and would make it three in added time. The captain, Thomasson, was found by Saud Abdulhamid, and the midfielder poked a sliding shot into the back of the net to put the game out of reach for a Brest side who will have to wait until mid-September to continue their pursuit of a first victory.

Lens Player Ratings

Robin Risser – 5

Matthieu Udol – 6

Jonathan Gradit – 4

Malang Sarr – 7

Deiver Machado – 6

Replaced at half-time by Samson Baidoo (6).

Mamadou Sangaré – 6

Adrien Thomasson – 8

An excellent performance from the captain. He was creative with the ball and ready to get stuck in and do the dirty work when Brest attacked. He likely should have registered a couple of assists, but the forward line struggled to put the ball in the back of the net. He capped his night with a well-taken goal. The midfielder looks as if he will be crucial for Pierre Sage’s plans this season.

Ruben Aguilar – 6

Wesley Saïd – 7

Rayan Fofana – 2

From the highs of scoring his first Ligue 1 goal last weekend, to a really frustrating outing tonight. The teenager had all the right movements, but couldn’t pull the trigger. Lens looked as if they would have been far and away in the lead if they had a proven goalscorer leading the line. Pierre Sage will hope that this is just a learning experience.

Florian Thauvin – 7

A lot of promise from the 2018 World Cup winner. He looks as if he is going to have an important season as the crux of Lens’s creative efforts. His deliveries were inviting, but his teammates struggled to turn them into goals. He was able to open up his goal-scoring account with the penalty.

Brest Player Ratings

Radoslaw Majecki – 3

He had a good first half, although there was a rash moment when he tried to sweep up the ball and almost gave away a handball outside of the box. The turning point in the match would come when he again looked to act as the sweeper keeper. His clumsy tackle was unlucky to have landed him a red card, but even if he hadn’t been sent off, he would have still allowed a penalty when his team had thus far managed to stave off Lens’s attempts to find a way back into the game.

Bradley Locko – 5

Junior Diaz – 5

Julien Le Cardinal – 6

Kenny Lala – 6

Kamory Doumbia – 6

Signs of promise from the midfielder. He had a big game against Lens’s rivals Lille, and while he could not find the back of the net this time around, he was able to register an assist. He looked lively when on the ball, and a menace off it.

Joris Chotard – 6

Hugo Magnetti – 5

Mama Baldé – 6

Ludovic Ajorque – 5

Vital in the goal, and had good moments off-the-ball. However, his defensive contributions at set-pieces were really worrying. The towering striker’s height and physicality should make him an asset when Brest are defending, but he kept on heading the ball into dangerous positions and putting his team under pressure. This came to ahead for the second Lens goal, when his clearance only returned possession back to Lens.

Romain Del Castillo – 4

GFFN | Nick Hartland