Lens left the Stade de l’Aube with a 3-1 win on Saturday night, striking at the start of the match, again in first-half stoppage time and once more after the break to beat Troyes on Matchday 7.
An Adrien Monfray own goal put the visitors ahead before Timothé Nkada brought Troyes level. Odsonne Édouard restored Lens’ advantage deep into added time before Ruben Aguilar’s header settled the contest in the 55th minute.
Quick facts
- Result: Troyes 1-3 Lens
- Competition: Ligue 1, Matchday 7
- Date and venue: Saturday 17 October 2026, Stade de l’Aube
- Lens goals: Adrien Monfray own goal, 13; Odsonne Édouard, 45+2; Ruben Aguilar, 55
- Troyes goal: Timothé Nkada, 26
- Florian Thauvin supplied assists for Édouard and Aguilar.
Troyes made the early running, winning a corner inside the opening minute, but Lens gradually imposed themselves. Thauvin’s delivery created a headed opening for Jean-Clair Todibo, and the pressure told from the ensuing spell.
At 13 minutes, Todibo’s header went wide before Aguilar’s follow-up was blocked. The ball ultimately ended up in the Troyes net off Monfray, giving Lens the lead.
The home side responded well. Antoine Mille tested Robin Risser from distance, and Nkada reacted quickest when the rebound fell in the area, firing low into the left corner to make it 1-1 after 26 minutes.
Lens had chances to regain control before the interval. Andrija Bulatovic hit the left post after being found by Édouard, while Édouard twice failed to direct headers on target from Thauvin crosses.
The decisive first-half moment arrived in the second minute of stoppage time. Lens broke forward and Thauvin crossed for Édouard, who finished from the middle of the box to send the visitors in 2-1 ahead.
Troyes came out aggressively after the restart. Renaud Ripart had a close-range effort blocked, Dermane Karim shot wide following a corner, and Ripart later headed a cross on target only for Risser to save.
Lens then punished that pressure on the counterattack. Thauvin delivered another cross from the right and Aguilar met it with a close-range header, scoring the third goal in the 55th minute.
The visitors were forced into several changes through injury. Todibo went off for Samson Baidoo on the hour, while Aguilar was replaced by Saud Abdulhamid in the 72nd minute. Ismaëlo Ganiou was also hurt late on, but Lens had already used all of their substitutions and finished the match with 10 players.
Lens also introduced Amadou Haidara, Franjo Ivanovic and Mezian Mesloub in the 67th minute, replacing Yacine Titraoui, Édouard and Thauvin. Troyes turned to Kandet Diawara, Noah Donkor, Iron Gomis and Jérémy Le Douaron during the second half.
There was no late way back for Troyes despite further pressure and several set pieces. Lucas Maronnier had a long-range attempt blocked, while Lens saw Mesloub’s late effort from outside the area stopped by the defence.
Baidoo and Haidara were booked for Lens, with Ripart and Junior Diaz receiving yellow cards for Troyes. The final whistle came after five additional minutes, confirming a composed away victory for Lens.
