Monaco go top of Ligue 1 after edging out Lens

Monaco went top of Ligue 1 by grinding past Lens 2:1 in round five, needing a Lens own goal to settle it after Aleksandr Golovin's side let a lead slip in the second half.

Paris Brunner put Monaco ahead on 32 minutes, finishing off a Matthis Abline assist, and the hosts took that lead into the break. Lens drew level on 57 minutes through Mathieu Udol. The winner came from Jonathan Gradit.

The result took Monaco to 13 points from five matches and top spot in Ligue 1. Lens stay on four points, in tenth. Golovin started the game for Monaco but did not add to the four league goals he has scored this season.

Clement’s side have dropped points only once in four matches beforehand, a draw against Strasbourg, and beat PSG away from home in round three with Matvei Safonov in the PSG goal. Monaco are second in the French championship.

Monaco's next fixture comes on 10 October, at home to Toulouse in round six, after the international break.