LENS, France (AP) — Winger Wesley Saïd scored a brilliant goal to secure Lens’ 10th consecutive win across all competitions and place atop the Ligue 1 standings on Saturday.
Lens defeated Auxerre 1-0 after Saïd controlled with his chest Malang Sarr’s cross into the box and finished with a left-footed volley from the bounce. The 65th-minute goal was his eighth this season.
Lens, which claimed its only French title in 1998, stayed one point ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain, which beat Lille on Friday.
Next-to-last in the standings, Auxerre was not intimidated by the buoyant crowd and posed a strong challenge to the host with intense pressing.
After a first half of few clear chances, Lens showed more intent and Matthieu Udol, set up by Adrien Thomasson, came close to breaking the deadlock. The ball fell back to Udol who struck again only for defender Fredrik Oppegård to block.
Udol then delivered a low cross toward the near post for Thomasson, whose effort went just wide. Lens kept pushing and was finally rewarded when Saïd slotted home.
Total control
Third-place Marseille put on a display of collective force and won at mid-table Angers 5-2 ahead of a Champions League showdown with Liverpool next week.
Angers’ defense imploded quickly and Marseille led 4-0 after 40 minutes before Amine Sbaï pulled one back for the host just before the interval.
Amine Gouiri put Marseille in the lead followed by goals from Mason Greenwood and Hamed Traore. Winger Timothy Weah added a header to cap a slick collective move. Igor Paixao made it 5-1 in the 88th and Jim Allevinah reduced the gap after a breakout.
Hidalgo’s brace
Santiago Hidalgo started in place of the suspended Emersonn and scored twice as Toulouse thrashed Nice 5-1. It was Toulouse’s third win in four Ligue 1 matches.
New signing Elye Wahi was on the scoresheet for Nice.
Toulouse has 29 goals, its best total after 18 rounds since 1998. The team was seventh in the standings, 17 points behind Lens.
PSG warmed up for next week’s Champions League match at Sporting with a convincing 3-0 win over Lille on Friday. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé scored a brace. Monaco fell to its seventh defeat in eight games, at home to Lorient 3-1.
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