PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 1-0 Nantes: Sang et Or secure Champions League qualification; Les Canaris down in Ligue 2

Early into the second half, Lopes was called into action, denying Matthieu Udol’s shot from a tight angle. His opposite number between the Lens sticks, Robin Risser, did an even better save in clearing Johann Lepenant’s volley off his line.

Lens thought they had opened the scoring, not once but twice. First, Saïd’s effort was rightlly chalked off with Sima offside in the build-up. The second one was more controversial, with Sima adjudged to have handled the ball in powering past Ali Yusuf before beating Lopes.

Nantes had the chance to race ahead against the run of play with Matthis Abline and Ignatius Ganago going together with only Ismaëlo Ganiou on their path, but instead of laying it on a plate for Ganago, Abline opted to go alone, and his shot ricocheted off Risser’s left post.

Nantes’ attacking woes are the main reason why they were heading to Ligue 2 in the first place, and they let their chance pass. And Lens punished them immediately, through an unlikely hero. 16-year-old Mezian Mesloub was on the pitch for only 11 seconds, for his professional debut, to strike true into Lopes’ bottom left corner with ten minutes to spare.

Cue bedlam at Bollaert-Delelis. Nantes threw their all to turn the game on its head, but it was all too late for Les Canaris, who have recorded a club-record 20th league loss this season. They drop back to Ligue 2 next season. Meanwhile, Lens will be different in a very different league: the Champions League.

Lens Player Ratings

Robin Risser, 6

Malang Sarr, 6

Samson Baidoo, 5

Ismaëlo Ganiou, 5

Matthieu Udol, 5

Amadou Haidara, 5

Andrija Bulatović, 6

Abdallah Sima, 4

The winger was deployed as a right wing-back, and it showed that he is not used to it. Frédéric Guilbert regularly got the better of him, and his attacking output was minimal. Reinstated as a striker in the second half, he was involved in Lens’ two chalked off goals. Replaced by 16-year-old Mezian Mesloub – Walid Mesloub’s son – who scored the game-winning goal 11 seconds into his debut.

Rayan Fofana, 3

The young striker lost possession many times and failed to strike an understandings with his attacking teammates. Hooked at half-time and replaced by Florian Sotoca.

Odsonne Edouard, 4

Wesley Saïd, 4

Selected Nantes Player Ratings

Anthony Lopes, 5

Frédéric Guilbert, 6

Matthis Abline, 3

GFFN | Bastien Cheval