Lens end Brest’s unbeaten run, move up to fourth spot

[Pelican Press 0]

Lens end Brest’s unbeaten run, move up to fourth spot

Lens continued their push for a Champions League spot next season by ending second-placed Brest’s unbeaten run with a 1-0 home win in the French league.

Ruben Aguilar headed home in the 32nd minute on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) after midfielder David Pereira da Costa’s cross bounced back off the post.

Lens moved up to fourth place, level on points with Monaco in third.

Monaco can move one point behind Brest if they win at Strasbourg on Sunday.

Brest were unbeaten in 13 league games since losing at Monaco on November 5.

The visitors came close to equalising in the second half, when Hugo Magnetti had a shot saved by France goalkeeper Brice Samba, and Uruguay forward Martin Satriano hit the post.

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Lens played in the Champions League this year for the first time since 2002 and are gaining momentum for a return.

Brest have never qualified for Europe’s elite competition and never finished higher than eighth in the French top flight.

Earlier, improving Lyon dominated even without top scorer Alexandre Lacazette and won 2-0 at Lorient for a fifth victory in their past six league games.

Lacazette has 12 league goals this season, but the former Arsenal forward is nursing a minor thigh injury. He was replaced in ******* by 18-year-old Belgian striker Malick Fofana.

Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo made three first-half saves to keep the Brittany side in the game.

However, he was powerless to keep out the opening goal in the 52nd minute, when Argentina’s World Cup-winning left back Nicolas Tagliafico met a cross from the right with a diving header.

Mvogo was beaten again in the 65th when forward Mama Balde scored a fine goal, cutting in from the right and finishing with his left foot after latching on to midfielder Maxence Caqueret’s pass.

The win moved Lyon up one place to 10th spot.

Runaway league leaders Paris Saint-Germain can move 12 points clear of Brest if they beat Reims at home on Sunday, with league top scorer Kylian Mbappe looking to add to his 21 goals.

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Sport,Soccer
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