PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 2-3 Monaco: Monégasque remontada leaves Lens vulnerable to PSG

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 23, 21/02/26

RC Lens let a two-goal lead slip, as AS Monaco netted three goals in 10 minutes to reignite their European challenge (2-3). Les Sang et Or may now lose top spot, should Paris Saint-Germain get a result against FC Metz later tonight.

The Match

Lens have been prolific against Monaco in recent times, scoring eight goals against the Principality club in their last two games. And they quickly added to the tally through Odsonne Édouard, who volleyed home after Adrien Thomasson cushioned Florian Thauvin’s chip into the box.

Looking to fight back, Monaco also netted through Folarin Balogun’s close-range volley, which was excellently saved by Robin Risser, but the USMNT forward should have done better with a free header just moments later. With the Principality club growing in stature as the half advanced, Lens almost landed another blow on the stroke of half-time, but Matthieu Udol could not latch onto Allan Saint-Maximin’s pullback.

Pierre Sage called for more aggression from his side at half-time as they seized control of the game once more and doubled the lead thanks to Florian Thauvin’s close-range tap-in, but just six minutes later, the momentum of the game would dramatically turn. 

Folarin Balogun would get one goal back thanks to some poor goalkeeping from Robin Risser, who let the shot to his near post crawl under him. Then came a thumping header from Denis Zakaria from a Caio Henrique cross and then an Ansu Fati chip. Three goals in 10 minutes took Monaco from two goals down to one goal up. It then became a question of whether Monaco could hold on. And they would, even if they were reliant on a last-ditch Lamine Camara to deny Rayan Fofana late-on.

Lens player ratings

Robin Risser – 4

Not the performance that he needed in front of France goalkeeping coach Franck Raviot. He made a brilliant save from Balogun in the first half, but was guilty of some clumsy balls out from the back, before the big error, which came on Monaco’s third goal, a goal that turned the game around. 

Malang Sarr – 6

Ismaelo Ganiou – 4

He began the game excellently and locked down his zone, but as the game wore on, errors crept in, notably on Monaco’s third goal. Fatigue played a role and frustration, too, in the final moments, as he was shown a needless yellow card.

Nidal Celik – 5

Matthieu Udol – 6

Andrija Bulatovic – 5

Adrien Thomasson – 6

Saud Abdulhamid – 5

Allan Saint-Maximin – 5

Florian Thauvin – 7

He was the magician in the midfield as he so often is. He won’t get an assist for the first, but his chip into the box for Lens’ first was worthy of one. He was then in the right place at the right time to tap home for his side’s second, and as they pushed to equalise late on, it was Thauvin who was central to Les Sang et Or’s efforts.

Odsonne Édouard – 6

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Kohn – 5

Wout Faes – 5

Denis Zakaria – 6

Thilo Kehrer – 4

Caio Henrique – 6

Lamine Camara – 6

Mamadou Coulibaly – 6

A mixed game from the midfielder who picked up really good positions and had a sense of where the space was throughout the match. But his impact with the ball was mixed. He was capable of a miscontrol when played in by Teze, but he was capable of picking out the ball for Balogun’s goal, which halved the deficit.

Jordan Teze – 6

Simon Adingra – 3

Not the Ivorian’s night. He was outmuscled throughout and was error-prone on the rare occasions that he managed to get on the ball. It is not abnormal to see him play a peripheral role in games. The same applied to his game against FC Nantes, but the difference on that night is that whenever he got the ball, he was effective. That was not the case here, and it was his replacement, Ansu Fati, who made a difference coming off the bench.

Krépin Diatta – N/A

Replaced by Aladji Bamba (6) due to injury in the 30th minute. The academy product was valuable in his circulation of the ball in deep areas and brought calmness in possession. 

Folarin Balogun – 6

GFFN | Luke Entwistle