RC Lens began their 2026/27 Ligue 1 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Auxerre 5-2 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday.
Florian Thauvin was the star of the show, scoring twice from the penalty spot and providing an assist as Lens produced a dominant second-half display.
Lens took the lead after 12 minutes when Thauvin calmly converted from the spot.
Their advantage was strengthened in the 35th minute when Auxerre defender Christ Makosso was shown a straight red card for bringing down the last man.
Despite playing with 10 men, Auxerre kept Lens to a single-goal lead at half-time.
The hosts, however, came out firing after the break.
Franjo Ivanović doubled their advantage in the 49th minute before Saud Abdulhamid headed in Thauvin’s cross five minutes later to make it 3-0.
Auxerre briefly threatened a comeback when Danny Namaso converted a penalty in the 61st minute, but Lens quickly restored control.
Ismaelo Ganiou made it 4-1 in the 66th minute following a cutback from substitute Michał Skóraś.
Lamine Sy reduced the deficit again three minutes later, but Auxerre could not sustain the pressure.
Thauvin completed Lens’ rout in the 88th minute, converting another penalty after VAR intervened.
The technology had earlier overturned a Lens penalty appeal in the 84th minute.
The victory reflected Lens’ dominance, with the hosts recording an expected-goals figure of 4.45 compared with Auxerre’s 1.79.
Lens also registered nine shots on target from 12 attempts.
The result gives Lens an impressive start to the new Ligue 1 season, while Auxerre will be left to regroup after a difficult afternoon in Lens.
