Lens beat Auxerre 5:2 in Ligue 1's opening round at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on 22 August. The hosts took control when Christ Makosso was sent off in the 35th minute, and never looked back after that. Florian Thauvin opened the scoring from the spot before half-time, and the home side kept adding to their tally.
Thauvin's penalty in the 12th minute gave Lens an early lead. Makosso's red card in the 35th minute shifted the balance, and by then Auxerre had to chase the game. Ivanovic restored the two-goal cushion in the 49th minute, and Abdulhamid added a third just after the break when VAR confirmed his effort.
Namaso pulled one back for Auxerre with a penalty in the 61st minute, but Ganiou responded for Lens six minutes later. Sy scored a second for the visitors in the 69th minute, and Thauvin completed his brace from the spot in the 88th minute. The home side had everything under control by then, with the result never really in doubt.
Lens created 10 big chances and registered 11 shots on target, while Auxerre managed just four and two big chances. The hosts held 53 per cent possession and registered an expected goals figure of 4.41, which told you everything about the efficiency of their attack. Auxerre's xG of 1.84 suggested they had chances but couldn't convert them.
The win moved Lens up to seventh place with three points from two games. Auxerre remain bottom of the table with zero points after two defeats. It was a comfortable evening for the hosts, who finally found a way back into their season after a difficult start.