Ligue 1: Strasbourg Deny Lens Top Spot with Late Draw

Strasbourg Vs Lens

Strasbourg hold Lens to 1-1 draw, denying Les Sang et Or top spot in Ligue 1. Lens miss chance to go top of Ligue 1 after 1-1 draw at Strasbourg, as Mamadou Sangare scores late equalizer.

Mamadou Sangare's late goal earns Lens a point in 1-1 draw at Strasbourg...

 

Lens blew their chance to go top of Ligue 1, settling for a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg. Gary O'Neil's side have now failed to win at home just twice in seven games.

Struggling to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to Monaco, Lens needed a win in Strasbourg. They had chances, but it wasn't their day.

The hosts started strong, with Julio Enciso's early strike cleverly blocked by Robin Risser. Le Racing's momentum paid off quickly, as Joaquín Panichelli capitalized on Ismaelo Ganiou's mistake and scored a beauty, lifting the ball over Risser for his 14th league goal.

Determined to find a swift response, Lens upped the ante before the half-hour mark, as Odsonne Edouard fired wide when well-placed in the box, while Adrien Thomasson and Wesley Saad missed the target with a pair of headers.

Another Strasbourg vs. Lens that didn’t disappoint 🍿⚽ pic.twitter.com/0DE5Q7ABwE

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 27, 2026

The visitors continued to threaten in the final third as half time approached, but Edouard spurned two glorious opportunities from close range, ensuring Strasbourg retained their slender advantage at the break.

Having won seven of their last eight competitive trips (L1), Les Sang et Or remained in the ascendancy at the start of the second period. Mike Penders stood firm in the hosts’ goal, though, with the Belgian shot-stopper denying Matthieu Udol and Florian Thauvin in quick succession.

Undeterred, Lens’ pressure finally paid dividends in the 62nd minute when an unconvincing punch from Penders found Mamadou Sangare on the edge of the box, and the Malian midfielder swept a brilliant first-time finish into the bottom corner to restore parity.

Strasbourg thought they’d been awarded a penalty just minutes later when Malang Sarr was adjudged to have fouled Panichelli in the box, but referee Clément Turpin overturned his decision after being sent to the on-pitch monitor.

That set up a fascinating finale for both sides, as Abdoul Ouattara saw a low strike smartly saved by Risser, while at the other end, Abdallah Sima blazed over from close range

In the end, neither side could find a winner, with Lens dropping more points in the Ligue 1 title chase and Strasbourg missing out on a top-six spot.