Thauvin gets the party started from the spot
12th minute, penalty spot, Florian Thauvin. Lens did not wait around to kick off its season. Racing won 4-2 against Auxerre on Saturday at Bollaert-Delelis, on the opening weekend of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 campaign.
At the break, though, it was still tight. 1-0. Auxerre were hanging in there. Then the second half exploded. Franjo Ivanovic doubled the lead in the 49th minute, set up by Abdallah Sima. Five minutes later, Saud Abdulhamid made it three from a Thauvin pass. VAR had a look, then gave it the green light.
Ismaelo Ganiou made it four in the 66th minute, meeting a Michal Skoras cross. Three goals in 17 minutes. Thauvin even appealed for a second penalty in the 84th minute. This time, VAR wasn't having it.
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Auxerre hit back, but far too late
Daniel Loader cut the gap from the spot in the 61st minute. Lamine Sy grabbed Auxerre's second in the 69th, after a Rayan Mandengue assist. The scoreline never changed again.
Auxerre had the ball, all right. 51% possession for Will Still's side, lined up in a 4-3-3. But the damage was done elsewhere. Lens created five big chances, Auxerre only one. Thauvin hit the target with both of his efforts. Sinaly Diomande made three interceptions for Auxerre, Arthur Piedfort completed 37 of 40 passes. Not enough.
Will Still was back at Bollaert, but on the wrong side this time. The Belgian coach knows the place well after working there. The return did not go to plan.
What it means in the table
Lens take three points and go provisionally second in Ligue 1. Auxerre are still on zero and already have the heaviest goal difference of the weekend.
Dino Toppmoller sent out his Racing in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Yacine Titraoui completed 49 of his 54 passes in midfield. Souleymane Sagnan won seven of his eight duels and finished with 36 completed passes from 38. Racing ended last season in patchy form. They restart with four goals and Thauvin making the difference twice.
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