Winger Gessime Yassine struck twice as Strasbourg came from behind to beat Lens 2-1 at home on Saturday, ending the visitors’ strong start to the season after they wilted in a disjointed second-half display.
Winners of the French Cup and runners-up in the league last term, Lens followed up their 1-0 Trophee des Champions win over Paris St Germain with a 5-2 mauling of Auxerre in their first league game, with Florian Thauvin getting the winner against PSG and netting twice in their opener.
Lens took the lead when Jeyland Mitchell felled Abdallah Sima in the box, and captain Thauvin stepped up to confidently rattle home the spot kick in the 38th minute.
Strasbourg were not behind for long, coming out all guns blazing in the second half and equalising through a Yassine strike after three minutes, with a deflection wrong-footing Robin Risser in the Lens goal.
Strasbourg had a 56th-minute goal ruled out for offside after a VAR review but they were not to be denied, and they grabbed a well-deserved winner in the 85th minute when Sebastian Nanasi crossed for Yassine to volley his second of the game to secure the three points.
