Lens began the season fearing the worst. Now they're beating the elite | Luke Entwistle

Lens, who were written off before the start of the season due to financial constraints and a loss of key players, are now defying expectations with a remarkable start. The club's "No 1 objective" has shifted from European qualification and cup runs to simply rediscovering financial solidity, but in doing so, they have managed to stave off the rot and find themselves above Marseille and Monaco in the Ligue 1 table.

Manager Pierre Sage has orchestrated an unlikely European charge at Lens, who are just one point behind PSG after their 2-1 win against Marseille. Despite the club's downgraded ambitions, Sage is getting more out of his players than expected. Florian Thauvin, a summer signing, has been instrumental in this resurgence, enjoying a late-career revival that has even earned him a shock recall to the international setup.

Sage has also repurposed captain Adrien Thomasson, moving him deeper into midfield where he excelled. Thomasson embodies Lens's quietly excellent season more generally, with five assists and one of the top performances in the league so far this season. The club's players are showing they have plenty of fight in them on the pitch too.

Lens president Joseph Oughourlian has been vocal about his discontent with the LFP and even went as far as calling PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi a "bully" during a leaked meeting last season. However, this criticism is being put to good use on the pitch, where Sage's team is defying expectations.

In contrast, local rivals Lille are struggling, with their owner Olivier Létang sending a message to Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin at half-time in their Europa League game, complaining about the referee's performance. The defeat has left Metz in a precarious position, while PSG returned to the top of the table after a 3-0 win against Marseille.

The table currently stands as follows:

| Pos | Team | P | GD |Pts |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | PSG | 9 | 11 | 20 |
| 2 | Lens | 9 | 6 | 19 |
| 3 | Marseille | 9 | 13 | 18 |
| 4 | Lyon | 9 | 4 | 18 |
| 5 | Lille | 9 | 11 | 17 |

Lens's remarkable start to the season has put them in a prime position to make an unlikely European charge, with Sage's team showing signs of life and momentum.

I'm loving this underdog story, you guys! Lens is like the ultimate comeback kid . Who would've thought they'd be sitting pretty above Marseille and Monaco in Ligue 1? Pierre Sage has definitely got some magic dust up his sleeve. Florian Thauvin's revival is pure gold , and Adrien Thomasson's been absolutely solid for the team. Their fighting spirit on the pitch is infectious . Meanwhile, Lille are struggling, but I'm not surprised - Olivier Létang can be a bit of a handful . Lens's president Joseph Oughourlian might've had some beef with the LFP and PSG, but it's all coming together now in a beautiful way . Can't wait to see how this European charge plays out!

lens is defo doing more than i thought they would this season, gotta admit i was writing them off earlier but sage is doing something right i mean, thomasson is a beast on the pitch right now, 5 assists in one game? what a player and it's not just him, the whole team is gelling together. they're proving all the doubters wrong and taking on the big boys. that win against marseille was huge they're not just scraping by, they're giving PSG a run for their money. can't wait to see how this season unfolds

I'm low-key loving Lens's resurgence right now ! Who would've thought that a team written off before the season even started would be giving PSG a run for their money? Pierre Sage is a total genius, I mean, he's not just getting the best out of his players, he's also making some bold tactical decisions that are paying off big time . And can we talk about Florian Thauvin's late-career revival? The guy's a legend!

i cant believe lens is doing so well!!! they were written off before the season started but pierre sage has clearly done something right lol! florian thauvin is on fire and adrien thomasson is a total unsung hero he's been instrumental in lens's resurgence and his performances are exactly what the club needed. it's not just about winning games, but also about being solid as a team and sage has clearly done that. meanwhile, lille is struggling big time and metz is literally on the edge of relegation... maybe they should take some lessons from lenny

I'm freaking out about Lens right now they were written off before the season but come on, Pierre Sage is doing something right! Thauvin's back to form and Thomasson's midfield masterclass has been a game changer I mean, who needs European qualification when you can be above Marseille and Monaco? But seriously, this is huge for the club and for French football as a whole. Lens's financial solidity is a beacon of hope for other struggling clubs. Can they keep this up? One point behind PSG after beating Marseille 2-1? This is getting exciting!

I was at the park with my dog the other day and we saw this squirrel trying to steal food from another bird's feeder. I swear that squirrel had a plan - it would scamper up to the feeder, knock it off balance just enough, and then make a run for it while the bird was distracted. Meanwhile, the owner of the feeder was like "why is my bird not getting any food?" and the squirrel was just laughing at them all from its perch on the branch. Anyway, back to Lens - I think this team's resurgence is kinda inspiring, you know? They're proving people wrong and showing that even when everyone thinks you're done for, you can still surprise them

Can you believe how Lens are killing it this season? I mean, no one thought they'd be doing so well, especially after all the losses and stuff they had at the start. But Pierre Sage is a genius, he's really brought out the best in his team! And Florian Thauvin's comeback story is so inspiring - from being written off to being back in the international setup? Mind blown! Meanwhile, Lille are struggling big time... I don't get it, they've got some great players but their owner's attitude is just weird. And PSG, yeah they're still top, but Lens are definitely giving them a run for their money right now!

I'm low-key impressed that Lens is pulling off this miracle without being expected to do much. I mean, Pierre Sage must be doing something right . It's not like they're suddenly good or anything, but hey, a team can surprise you every now and then.

And omg, Florian Thauvin's comeback story is so inspiring! Who knew he still had it in him? The fact that he even got called back up to the international squad is just...wow. I guess some players never really lose their touch.

But seriously, Lens's financial situation must be looking way better than anyone thought. Like, they're not totally losing money or anything, and that's definitely a win. Who needs European qualification when you can stay solvent?

Oh, and Lille's drama is just the best. "The referee was bullying me"...yawn. It's like, dude, it's football. Get over it .

I'm loving Lens's underdog story . They've gone from being written off due to financial constraints to suddenly becoming one of the top teams in Ligue 1. It's a testament to Pierre Sage's tactics and ability to get the best outta his players.

But what really caught my attention is that all this success comes despite the team's reduced ambitions and expectations . They're not chasing European qualification or cup runs, they just want to stay financially solid. That's some clever planning right there.

And Florian Thauvin is absolutely killing it! He's had a great revival at Lens and even earned himself a recall to the national team . It's awesome to see players performing above expectations.

But what about the president Joseph Oughourlian's beef with PSG? Is that really having an impact on the pitch or just noise from the sidelines ?

One thing for sure is that this Ligue 1 season has been full of surprises, and Lens are definitely one of them .

I'm loving how Lens is just smashing expectations, you know? They were written off before the season even started, but Pierre Sage is like a genius or something. He's managed to whip his team into shape and they're now sitting pretty above Marseille and Monaco in Ligue 1. I mean, Florian Thauvin is having an absolute blast at this club - who knew he'd get another shot at the international scene? And Adrien Thomasson is just quietly doing his thing, scoring assists left and right. It's like they're feeding off some kind of magic or something. Meanwhile, Lille are just struggling to keep up... poor guys. But you gotta give Lens credit for this - who'd have thought they'd be in the mix with PSG? They're proving everyone wrong, and that's what makes it so exciting!

I'm loving this resurgence at Lens, it's like they're proving everyone wrong . But you know what really got me thinking? It's not just about the on-field performance, it's about the mentality and the fight in their players. I mean, Thomasson's comeback is a testament to that. He was written off by many, but Sage found a way to bring him back into the fold. That speaks volumes about the manager's ability to adapt and get the best out of his players.

And let's not forget about Oughourlian, Lens's president. His outspoken criticism of the LFP is often seen as just that - criticism. But what if it's actually a reflection of his own frustrations with the system? It makes you wonder if he's been able to make some real changes at the club, or if it's all just a smokescreen. Either way, it's been good for Lens, I guess .

The contrast between Lens and Lille is also pretty fascinating. Two teams that have similar goals, but one's pulling ahead while the other's struggling. It's like they're two different ships passing in the night . But you know what? Maybe that's just the beauty of it all - the uncertainty, the unpredictability. It keeps us on our toes, and reminds us that anything can happen in football. ️

I'm so stoked to see Lens killing it this season! They were written off before the start of the season but Pierre Sage is proving everyone wrong. The man's got skills! Florian Thauvin's been a game-changer, especially with his late-career revival. And Adrien Thomasson's just been clutch – 5 assists and counting!

I love how Lens has shifted their focus from European qualification to just staying solid financially. It's like they're proving the haters wrong too! The team's showing plenty of fight, and it's infectious. They're one point behind PSG, which is insane considering how much everyone wrote them off.

Lille's struggles are a shame, especially with their owner going all drama-y at Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin . And Metz is in a tricky spot... but hey, Lens is living their best life! Sage's team is defying expectations, and I'm here for it.

I'm low-key loving how wrong everyone was about Lens this season! I mean, who would've thought they'd be right there with PSG? Not me, that's for sure. But seriously, Pierre Sage has done an amazing job turning the team around, and it's awesome to see players like Florian Thauvin and Adrien Thomasson thriving in their roles. And can we talk about how weird it is that Lille is struggling while Lens is on fire? Those two teams are like polar opposites right now, but I'm loving the drama!

aww yessss lens is like the underdog story of ligue 1!! pierre sage is doing such an amazing job as manager, i'm loving how he's got his players performing way above expectations! florian thauvin is a genius signing, and adrien thomasson is like the unsung hero of lens captain thomasson is shining so bright in midfield, 5 assists already? and i love how the team's morale is lifted after that win against marseille ️️ let's keep cheering for them!!

I'm loving this! Lens is literally proving everyone wrong, including their own owners . They've got that underdog spirit going on for days, and Florian Thauvin is a total revelation ! Not to mention Adrien Thomasson's midfield domination . Who knew being the "quiet" team would be so effective? PSG might have the cash, but Lens has got the heart . This is turning out to be one of the most exciting seasons in Ligue 1 for ages !

omg u gotta love lens right now they were written off before the season but sage is making waves this guy is like a genius manager lol florian thauvin is on fire and adrien Thomasson is like the unsung hero of the team i mean, 5 assists already? that's insane! lens is defying expectations and it's so satisfying to see them killin' it in ligue 1

Lens is doing way better than expected, I guess it just goes to show that with good management and decent squad additions, you can turn things around. The players are all working together like a well-oiled machine now . It'll be interesting to see how this momentum keeps up .

I mean its pretty cool how lens is doing so well despite being written off at the start of the season . They're just focusing on staying afloat financially instead of chasing European qualification and stuff like that, but it's working out for them!

Pierre Sage is doing an amazing job as manager, he's really gotten more out of his players than I thought possible . Florian Thauvin is a genius signing, even got him back into the international setup after a late-career revival .

I also love how Thomasson is excelling in midfield, its like the club knew they had something special there . The fact that they're just enjoying the moment and not putting too much pressure on themselves is really refreshing ️

And lol at Lille's owner complaining to Uefa about the referee . It looks like they're trying to make a big deal out of nothing .

But seriously, lens are definitely living proof that you don't need to be the biggest or best club in the league to have success . They're showing everyone what it means to be humble and just enjoy the journey ️

Lens is like totally defying expectations! Their season has been all about financial solidity now, but they're still getting some big wins and looking good on the pitch . Florian Thauvin is killing it, even got recalled to the international setup . And Adrien Thomasson is quietly doing his thing in midfield... it's like they've got more fight than people thought . Their president might have been a bit of a hothead, but he's not losing out on the benefits now . The whole team seems to be on fire right now !