PLAYER RATINGS | RC Lens 2-0 OGC Nice: Lens end 2025 as league leaders with routine win | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 16, 14/12/2025

RC Lens hoped to return to the top of Ligue 1 in the final round of fixtures before the winter break. They would need to beat their visitors, OGC Nice, a side looking to end an eight-game losing streak across all competitions. 

The Match

In a perverse way, it would prove to be a far less hostile environment for Nice than if they playing at home. A rupture has opened between the supporters and players since the squad was ambushed following a 3-1 defeat to FC Lorient on the 30th of November. Instead, at times it looked like Lens were the more nervous side. 

Some of their passes in both their and Nice’s final third were rushed, the occasion perhaps getting to a team that had never expected to be in the title race a month ago. Regardless, they were up against a forgiving opponent, and the opener would come in the 15th minute. 

Mohamed-Ali Cho would be slow to close down Matthieu Udol, and in now trademark style, the wing-back hit a cross towards Odsonne Édouard, who found the back of the net with a looping header. 

Nice would have two clear-cut chances to level the score. Isak Jannson crossed towards Cho at the far post, but the winger misjudged the bounce of the ball, and the chance slipped out for a goalkick. Cho would later make amends with a darting run into the box and finding Hicham Boudaoui, his point-blank shot forcing Robin Risser into a brilliant save. 

Franck Haise looked to capitalise on the momentum his side had shown, taking off Charles Vanhoutte and putting on the striker Kevin Carlos. Nice looked as if they meant business, and Boudaoui stung the palms of Risser with a whipped shot from distance. However, Lens would land a sucker punch in the 57th minute. 

It was an identikit goal for Lens. Udol, out on the left, swung a cross towards Édouard, who would head home to give his side a comfortable lead. Haise would make a quadruple substitution, as what little hope that still existed after these bruising two months drained from the side. 

In the end, it was comfortable Lens as they leapfrogged Paris Saint-Germain to take back top spot and finish 2025 as the league leaders.

RC Lens Player Ratings

Robin Risser, 7

Nice weren’t able to consistently test the 21-year-old goalkeeper. However, on the occasions that they were able to burst through and fire at goal, they found him a brick wall. Vital in keeping Lens’s narrow lead ahead, until they found the safety of a second. 

Malang Sarr, 6

Samson Baidoo, 6

Ismaëlo Ganiou, 6

Matthieu Udol, 7

It’s been a wonderful start to life at Lens after leaving his boyhood club, FC Metz, in the summer. His deliveries to Édouard were simply perfect; a trademark Lens goal under Pierre Sage. This game takes his assist tally to five. 

Adrien Thomasson, 5

Mamadou Sangaré, 6

Ruben Aguilar, 6

Wesley Saïd, 5

Replaced by Florian Sotoca in the 78th minute. 

Odsonne Édouard, 7

Replaced by Rayan Fofana in the 86th minute. 

Florian Thauvin, 5

A quiet evening for the player who, in recent weeks, has looked like the embodiment of this Lens side. He worked hard off-the-ball throughout, but chances were few and far between. Replaced by Morgan Guilvagoui in the 78th minute. 

OGC Nice Player Ratings

Yehvann Diouf, 5

Melvin Bard, 5

Kojo Peprah Oppong, 4

Replaced by Ali Al-Abdi in the 70th minute. 

Antoine Mendy, 4

Jonathan Clauss, 4

Morgan Sanson, 5

Replaced by Tanguy Ndombele in the 70th minute. 

Charles Vanhoutte, 5

Replaced by Kevin Carlos at half-time, likely because the midfielder had been booked early in the first half. Not a bad performance, but ultimately Haise was keen to avoid his side chasing a lead with ten men, like they had to do last weekend at home to Angers SCO. 

Hicham Boudaoui, 4

Replaced by Salis Abdul Samed in the 70th minute. 

Isak Jansson, 5

Replaced by Tiago Gouveia in the 70th minute. 

Mohamed-Ali Cho, 4

A mixed game for the winger. He was a rare bright spark in attack, providing a couple of clear-cut chances for his teammates… but he did also miss a gilt-edged opportunity. He was slow when he needed to come back and prevent a crossing opportunity, which is slightly unforgivable, as we know how Lens like to attack, and his late closing down of Udol allowed the wing-back to turn creator. 

Sofiane Diop, 4

GFFN | Nick Hartland