RC Lens booked their place in the Coupe de France final for the first time since the 1997/98 season after a commanding 4-1 semi-final win over Toulouse FC, extending their remarkable home run to 14 victories in their last 15 matches.
Fresh from a dramatic 2-0 comeback win against Toulouse in Ligue 1 just days earlier, Lens began with clear intent at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, immediately putting their opponents under pressure.
The breakthrough arrived early when Florian Thauvin was brought down in the penalty area by Pape Demba Diop.
The forward picked himself up and calmly slotted home the resulting penalty to give the hosts the lead.
Lens doubled their advantage in the 18th minute in style. Thauvin turned provider this time, threading a precise pass to Allan Saint-Maximin, who unleashed a superb 20-yard finish into the bottom corner.
Toulouse briefly responded after a costly mistake from Samson Baidoo, who lost possession inside his own box, allowing Santiago Hidalgo to finish from close range and reduce the deficit.
Despite that setback, Lens remained firmly in control and continued to threaten, with Odsonne Edouard going close but denied by goalkeeper Kjetil Haug.
The pressure eventually told again before half-time as Matthieu Udol arrived unmarked to convert Saud Abdulhamid’s pinpoint cross from close range, restoring a two-goal cushion.
After the break, Lens maintained their dominance, though Edouard missed a couple of opportunities to extend the lead further.
Toulouse, meanwhile, struggled to create any meaningful response.
The hosts eventually sealed the result in the 74th minute. Abdulhamid turned provider once more, cutting the ball back for Adrien Thomasson to finish after Haug had initially saved Thauvin’s free-kick.
With a three-goal advantage secured, Lens comfortably saw out the closing stages in front of a jubilant home crowd, even as late chances for Mamadou Sangare and Abdallah Sima went begging.
The victory sends Lens into the Coupe de France final, where they will face either RC Strasbourg Alsace or OGC Nice as they chase a first-ever triumph in the competition.
