(Ligue 1 2022/2023): Highlights Lyon - Lens

Leon Ramos rounded off the weekend's action when they met at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday night. It's perhaps unexpectedly the visitors who are challenging for the Champions League places this season. They're still third despite having failed to win their last three games. They lost to Nice, followed up last weekend by a draw at Brest. Leon, meanwhile, hadn't experienced a start to life under the legendary Laurent Blanc that they may have expected, still struggling to close in on those European spots. Two wins from their previous three games, perhaps the start of the long-awaited revival. They got off to a great start in this game. Alexandre Lacazette showing good strength and then good tenacity to get back up and on the end of Ryan Cechi's pass, which he's fired low, into the bottom corner. Fourteen for the season now. Lacazette's eight goals in 2023 is the joint highest in Europe's big five leagues, alongside Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. They've been struggling to score goals in recent weeks after a couple of missed chances. He took a wonder strike to bring them level just before half-time. A delicate Florian Sotikov flick finding Deva Mercado, who curled a beauty into the top corner to make it 1-1. Far from a prolific scorer, just his second in almost two seasons at Lens, he's the eighth of a 29-year-old's career. If he does hit the net, he hits it hard. It matters worse for Leon. Goal scorer and captain Lacazette limped off at half-time. Visitors didn't let that dampen their spirits and came flying out of the blocks in the second half, with Brentley Barcola coming inches away from giving his side the lead after getting in behind the Lens defence. And after missing a chance moments before, Cechi deservedly got on the score sheet at the hour mark. Maxence Kakare winning back possession, and his teammates slamming the ball home. Licking in the adulation of the home fans, and rightly so. Fantastic finish, kicking the inside of the post. Lens threw everything forward in the dying minutes, and often captain fantastic Seco Forfana tried to find the heroic moment he's delivered numerous times before. But on this occasion, his powerful drive was parried away by Anthony Lopez. And Lens never could break past a stout Leon defence. He did well to see out the game. 2-1, make it ten points from four games. Lens have just two from those four games. Slip back to fourth.