Lens 5-2 Auxerre: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Lens won it

Lens struck first through Florian Thauvin from the penalty spot in the 12th minute. Franjo Ivanović made it 2-0 to Lens in the 49th minute, set up by Abdallah Sima. Saud Abdulhamid made it 3-0 to Lens in the 54th minute, set up by Florian Thauvin. Danny Namaso from the penalty spot made it 3-1 to Auxerre in the 61st minute. Ismaëlo Ganiou made it 4-1 to Lens in the 66th minute, set up by Michal Skoras. Lamine Sy made it 4-2 to Auxerre in the 69th minute, set up by Rayan Mandengue. Florian Thauvin from the penalty spot made it 5-2 to Lens in the 88th minute.

It was 1-0 at half-time.

Florian Thauvin scored twice.

Christ Makosso of Auxerre was sent off in the 35th minute. The referee, M. Vernice, showed 2 yellow cards: 1 to Lens and 1 to Auxerre.

Lens: D. Toppmöller, 3-4-2-1 · Auxerre: W. Still, 4-3-3.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 1.86 for Lens and 3.81 for Auxerre.

Lens scored about 3.1 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Auxerre left about 1.8 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.

Auxerre created the better chances, 3.81 xG to 1.86, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

Lens had 9 shots on target, Auxerre 4.

Lens had 53% of the ball and turned it into the win.

A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Lens came into it with 6 Ligue 1 matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 1.7 a match, with 1.98 expected goals for and 1.81 against, and had won 33% of their matches.

Auxerre came into it with 5 Ligue 1 matches played, scoring 1.4 and conceding 2.4 a match, with 1.33 expected goals for and 1.89 against, and had won 40% of their matches.

Lens vs Auxerre: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Florian Thauvin (Lens), rated 8.7 by Sportmonks, with 2 goals, 1 assist.

Lens

• Florian Thauvin 8.7 2 goals, 1 assist
• Franjo Ivanović 7.7 1 goal
• Michal Skoras 7.7 1 assist
• Souleymane Sagnan 7.5
• Ismaëlo Ganiou 7.4 1 goal

Auxerre

• Danny Namaso 7.4 1 goal
• Rayan Mandengue 6.9 1 assist
• Lasso Coulibaly 6.7
• Aristide Zossou 6.5
• Kévin Danois 6.4

The lowest-rated starter was Christ Makosso at 5.4. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Lens: Lens vs Sporting CP Tuesday 13 October 2026 · Champions League
• Auxerre: Rennes vs Auxerre Sunday 11 October 2026 · Ligue 1

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Lens vs Auxerre

What was the score in Lens vs Auxerre?

Lens 5-2 Auxerre (half-time 1-0), Ligue 1, Saturday 22 August 2026.

Who scored in Lens vs Auxerre?

Florian Thauvin 12', Franjo Ivanović 49', Saud Abdulhamid 54', Danny Namaso 61', Ismaëlo Ganiou 66', Lamine Sy 69', Florian Thauvin 88'.

Did Moneyball predict Lens vs Auxerre correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Lens vs Auxerre?

Florian Thauvin, rated 8.7 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Lens vs Auxerre?

M. Vernice.