PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 3-2 Toulouse: Ismaëlo Ganiou keeps Lens’s title hopes alive

Florian Sotoca thought he had halved the deficit when he headed home at the far post, but his effort was ruled out for an admittedly soft push on the back of Rasmus Nicolaisen. Lens ratcheted up the pressure in the second half as they besieged Toulouse’s boxes with cross after cross. 

The substitute Allan Saint-Maximin finally secured the break the hosts needed when his cross found Saud Abdulhamid at the far post. The floodgates would soon open with Sarr testing his luck from distance. His shot forced Restes into a diving block, which only pushed the ball into the path of Thomasson, who levelled the score with the keeper still sprawled on the floor. 

At the death, Ismaëlo Ganiou would rescue all three points. The centre-back was left unmarked in the box to head home Andrija Bulatović’s corner. Toulouse had fought valiantly for much of the game despite being down to ten men, but the pressure would eventually prove to be too much. For Lens, the win would send them within a point of Paris Saint-Germain, albeit the league leaders have two games in hand.

Lens Player Ratings

Robin Risser, 3

Arthur Masuaku, 5

Malang Sarr, 6

Ismaëlo Ganiou, 7

Lens’ academy isn’t famous in France and is often overshadowed by their local rivals, Lille OSC. However, in Ganiou, Lens have a serious homegrown talent. The academy product secured the winner at the death and put in an assured performance after a ropey start to the game.

Matthieu Udol, 7

Adrien Thomasson, 7

Mamadou Sangaré, 5

Perhaps a harsh reflection on his game, but the midfielder abandoned his task marking Koumbassa for the second goal – a lapse in concentration that we haven’t come to expect from someone who has so often been the shield for Lens’s defence.

Saud Abulhamid, 7

Wesley Saïd, 4

Rayan Fofana, 4

Florian Sotoca, 4

Only his second start in the league this season. He gave away the ball for Toulouse’s opener. Found the back of the net and was harshly punished for what seemed like a soft foul.

Toulouse Player Ratings

Guillaume Restes, 7

For so much of this game, he was the reason why Toulouse believed they could hang on to all three points. He put in a heroic shift in the first half, which was eventually undone by the sheer quantity of chances that Lens were creating. Despite losing the game, Toulouse’s defensive efforts should be recognised.

Rasmus Nicolaisen, 6

Seny Koumbassa, 6

Charlie Cresswell, 6

Warren Kamanzi, 4

Alexis Vossah, 5

Cristian Cásseres Jr., 6

A good shift in the middle of the park for Toulouse, giving the visitors the early lead. He made a series of recoveries, providing a bit of backbone to a team that spent much of the game camped within their own box following the red card.

Aron Dønnum, 5

Yann Gboho, N/A

Emersonn, 5

Santiago Hidalgo**, 6**

Forced into a more defensive role following Gboho’s sending off. His work rate was flawless as he covered every blade of grass on the pitch.

GFFN | Nick Hartland