Lens 2-0 Nice Player Ratings: Edouard Rated 9/10 as His Brace Secures Comfortable 2-0 Victory

Lens delivered a commanding performance against a lackluster Nice side, securing a solid 2-0 victory at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The home side simply looked more hungry, more determined, and it paid off handsomely in this crucial Ligue 1 fixture.

The entire narrative of the match revolved around one man Odsonne Edouard. He was simply unplayable. His first goal, a clinical header in the 15th minute, was a perfect poacher's finish that set the tone. He wasn't finished, doubling his tally and sealing the three points with another headed goal in the second half, assisted by Matthieu Udol.

What truly stood out to us was how Lens controlled the game even when they didn't have the ball. They were compact, aggressive, and gave the visitors absolutely no room to breathe. While Nice had their moments and forced a few good saves from Robin Risser, they never truly looked like they believed they could get back into the game. It was a statement win for Lens.

Here are Lens Vs Nice Player Ratings

Lens Player Ratings vs Nice

Here are Lens Player Ratings vs Nice

Goalkeeper

Robin Risser - 7.5: A very confident display from the keeper. He made four saves, including a couple of really smart stops to deny Hicham Boudaoui and Isak Jansson. Commanded his area well and his distribution was solid, helping to launch counter-attacks. Keeping a clean sheet was the well-deserved reward for a sharp performance.

Defenders

Samson Baidoo - 7.5: What a rock at the back. He won an impressive 80% of his duels and made five crucial clearances. From our perspective, his positioning was spot on all game, cutting out attacks before they could even develop. He was composed on the ball and never looked panicked, a really mature performance.

Malang Sarr - 8.0: An outstanding defensive performance. The stats speak for themselves: seven interceptions. That’s an incredible reading of the game. He seemed to be one step ahead of the Nice attackers at all times. Also blocked two shots and was a dominant presence. A truly imperious display.

Ismaëlo Ganiou - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, outing. He did his job effectively without grabbing the headlines like his defensive partners. He was solid in the air and contributed to the overall defensive stability. Didn't do much wrong but wasn't as influential as Sarr or Baidoo.

Midfielders

Ruben Aguilar - 6.5: A very busy performance, though lacking in end product. He got into some good positions and had a couple of shots but was quite wasteful in possession, losing the ball 17 times. His work rate was high, but the quality just wasn't there on the day. A bit of a mixed bag, really.

Mamadou Sangaré - 7.5: We were really impressed by his control in the midfield. He recovered the ball nine times and had an excellent pass completion rate. He was energetic, breaking up play and starting attacks with simple, effective passes. A vital cog in the Lens machine today.

Matthieu Udol - 8.5: Absolutely brilliant. To provide two assists from a deeper role is a game-changing contribution. His crossing was a constant threat, and the delivery for Édouard's second goal was pure perfection. He was a creative force and a tireless worker down the flank. A fantastic performance.

Adrien Thomasson - 6.0: It was a surprisingly subdued game for the captain. He seemed to struggle with the pace of the game, getting dribbled past five times and losing possession too often. He never stopped trying, but it just wasn't his day. He'll be disappointed with his personal performance despite the team's win.

Forwards

Florian Thauvin - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for him. He missed a big chance and lost the ball an astonishing 20 times, which really killed his team's momentum on several occasions. We noticed his body language showed his frustration. He just couldn't seem to get into the flow of the game at all.

Odsonne Édouard - 9.0: Man of the Match, and it wasn't even close. He was the difference-maker. Two powerful, perfectly-placed headers showcased his elite striking instincts. Beyond the goals, he was a nightmare for defenders, drawing six fouls and holding the ball up brilliantly. This was the highest-rated player on the pitch by a mile.

Wesley Saïd - 7.0: A really intelligent performance from the captain. He linked up play effectively, created a couple of good chances, and his movement off the ball created space for Édouard. He put in a hard-working shift before being substituted. A very valuable team player.

Substitutes

Florian Sotoca - N/A: Came on late to help see out the victory.

Morgan Guilavogui - N/A: Brought on for the final stretch with the game already won.

Manager

P. Sage - 8.0: His game plan was executed to perfection. He set his team up to be defensively impenetrable while relying on the clinical finishing of his striker. The tactics nullified Nice's strengths completely. A tactical masterclass from the Lens boss.

Nice Player Ratings vs Lens

Here are Nice Player Ratings vs Lens

Goalkeeper

Yehvann Diouf - 6.5: It’s hard to blame him for the two goals, as they were both powerful headers from close range. He actually made a few decent saves to keep the scoreline respectable, including a good stop to deny Saïd. He was left exposed by a chaotic defense in front of him.

Defenders

Melvin Bard - 6.5: The captain put in a decent individual effort, making four interceptions and recovering the ball eight times. However, as the leader of the backline, he has to take some responsibility for how easily they were breached. A solid personal game in a losing team effort.

Antoine Mendy - 6.0: He was tidy in possession but struggled defensively. He lost more duels than he won and committed several fouls in dangerous areas. He just couldn't handle the movement and physicality of the Lens attack. A tough day at the office.

Kojo Peprah Oppong - 5.0: A really, really poor performance. He looked completely out of his depth against Odsonne Édouard, losing seven of his eleven duels and committing four fouls. It was no surprise to see him substituted. Just a day to forget for the defender.

Jonathan Clauss - 6.5: He was one of the few Nice players who tried to drive forward, completing all his dribbles and putting in some crosses. However, he also lost possession 17 times and was part of a defense that conceded twice. A mixed performance with some good and bad moments.

Midfielders

Hicham Boudaoui - 6.5: He tried his best to make something happen, getting two shots on target and drawing four fouls. But he also missed a big chance that could have changed the game's complexion. He was active but ultimately ineffective against a very organized midfield.

Morgan Sanson - 6.0: A very quiet game from him. He was unable to impose himself on the match, losing the ball frequently and getting bypassed in the midfield battle. We expected more from a player of his quality, but he was largely anonymous.

Charles Vanhoutte - 5.5: His game was over before it really began. He picked up an early yellow card and never looked comfortable, leading to his substitution at halftime. He struggled to cope with the intensity of the Lens press.

Forwards

Sofiane Diop - 7.0: Arguably Nice's best player on the day. He was neat and tidy in possession and created two chances for his teammates. He always looked to be positive on the ball, but he was fighting a losing battle with little support around him.

Isak Jansson - 6.5: Showed some bright sparks in the first half and forced a good save from the keeper. He has quick feet and looked dangerous when he ran at defenders. However, his influence waned significantly as the game went on.

Mohamed-Ali Cho - 7.0: A livewire throughout the match. He was a willing runner, completed three dribbles, and always looked to get a shot off. The final product wasn't always there, but you can't fault his effort. One of the few bright spots for Nice.

Substitutes

Kevin Carlos - 6.0: Came on at halftime but failed to make a significant impact on the game.

Salis Abdul Samed - 5.5: Brought on to add some steel but got booked almost immediately and gave away fouls.

Ali Abdi - N/A: Had little time to influence the proceedings.

Tanguy Ndombélé - N/A: A late cameo with the game already lost.

Tiago Gouveia - N/A: Came on for the final 20 minutes but was quiet.

Manager

F. Haise - 5.5: From our perspective, he got his tactics wrong today. His team looked disjointed and vulnerable at the back, while offering very little threat going forward. His substitutions did nothing to change the flow of the game. A disappointing day for the Nice manager.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Odsonne Edouard