PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 1-2 Marseille: Pressure remains on Lens after Champions League disaster

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 10, 08/11/2026

Olympique de Marseille kept the pressure on RC Lens with a 2-1 win over their hosts.

The Match

Lens and Marseille experienced contrasting fortunes in their midweek European adventures. Les Lensois suffered resolute humiliation at the hands of Como 1906, losing 9-1 in a historic Champions League defeat at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Marseille, on the other hand, would pick up their first points in the Europa League with a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen for their third win in a row across all competitions. 

Lens likely dreaded their home reception, and for good reason, as the supporters made their feelings clear about a horror week from the start of the game, with a banner in front of the ultras reading, ‘You are a disgrace to 120 years of history.’ The scars from the defeat were not just present in the stands, but reflected on the pitch, with Lens gifting Marseille a goal in the 2nd minute when Jonathan Gradit’s backpass was picked up by Amine Gouiri for a simple finish. 

Heads began to lift after the early shock, and even the supporters found their voice, as they temporarily put aside their frustrations to cheer on a team that desperately needed to put the 9-1 defeat out of their minds. Lens showed some threat getting into promising positions in the final third; their endeavour would be rewarded when Florian Sotoca dug out a cross for Florian Thauvin to head home. 

Gouiri would threaten again when he slipped between the defenders to poke a shot onto the crossbar, while Amine Harit would test Robin Risser’s reflexes, forcing a save off Lens’s France international. Down the other end, Igor Paixão would give away the ball close to goal, allowing Yacine Titraoui a free hit. However, the midfielder shot straight at Jeffrey De Lange. 

The intensity that had defined the first half waned after the break. It would take until the 76th minute for a bit of life to be put back into the game when Thauvin dropped to the floor in the box. There were big appeals from Lens, but in truth the Lens captain had fouled Tochukwu Nnadi, with his studs scraping down the leg of the Marseille midfielder. 

It felt as if the game would end in a stalemate, but with eight minutes left, Marseille took the lead through the substitute Keyliane Abdallah. A scuffed shot from Gouiri, following a good combination down Marseille’s left, would travel on to find Abdallah. The winger fired home to give Marseille the late win and send the club into fourth ahead of the international break.

Lens Player Ratings

Robin Risser, 4

A poor start for the goalkeeper, who has picked up some criticism following the 9-1 defeat. The immediate signs were not promising when he was beaten easily by Gouiri in the opening couple of minutes. His game was later raised, and he made some good interventions, but ultimately it felt like he still looked a little shell-shocked from the European shellacking.

Jean-Clair Todibo, 4

Samson Baidoo, 4

Jonathan Gradit, 4

Brought in for his experience, he made an immediate error alongside Baidoo.

Matthieu Udol, 5

Yacine Titraoui, 6

Came in for Michaël Cuisance, who was dropped after Como. A good performance from the midfielder. Solid without the ball, and possessed some threat with it. He likely should be starting over the Frenchman.

Amadou Haidara, 6

Saud Abdulhamid, 5

Florian Sotoca, 7

An all-action performance from the veteran. Did well in Thauvin’s equaliser. Perhaps faded somewhat in influence by the end of the game, and was substituted in the 85th minute.

Thorgan Hazard, 5

Florian Thauvin, 7

Marseille Player Ratings

Jeffrey de Lange, 7

Maybe there were some doubts at the start of the season about whether Jeffrey de Lange was the right choice to be the No. 1 going into this season. Ultimately, there wasn’t a choice. Necessity has proven to be a gift, with the goalkeeper growing from strength to strength.

Ulisses Garcia, 5

Nayef Aguerd, 6

CJ Egan-Riley, 5

Timothy Weah, 5

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, 6

Tochukwu Nnadi, 6

Another solid showing from the midfielder. His shooting wasn’t always the best, but it was his defensive work that earned him his spot in the team.

Igor Paixão, 7

Himad Abdelli, 5

Amine Harit, 5

Amine Gouiri, 7

Another great performance from the striker; he looks as if he has been relishing the chance to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders. He’s been in a purple patch and looked dangerous, particularly in the first half.

GFFN | Nick Hartland