With a chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, Lens dominated the early proceedings as they sought to take advantage of their struggling hosts, and Anthony Lopes was called into action early on to deny Malang Sarr’s header from close range.
Odsonne Edouard was the next to threaten after he showed sharp control and skill to engineer space in the six-yard box, but Lopes was on hand again to deliver the ball clear.
Nonetheless, serious momentum was building in Lens' favour, and it finally told when the opener came for the Sang et Or, when Ruben Aguilar took out the entire Nantes defence with a pinpoint cross, and Florian Thauvin’s header had the quality to match as it found the far corner of the net.
That could’ve spelt disaster for the home side – who were winless in nine games this season after conceding the first goal – but they were immediately given a helping hand. A clumsy challenge from Ismaelo Ganiou wiped out Matthis Abline in the box, and Youssef El-Arabi levelled the scores at the second attempt as he tapped in after seeing his spot kick saved by Robin Risser.
Despite hitting back before the break, Nantes struggled to regain control after it.
Although they struggled to create clear-cut chances, Lens pinned the hosts back and looked particularly threatening from set pieces.
It looked like the home side could be in luck with 10 minutes to go when the offside flag ruled out a Wesley Said goal, but he struck again two minutes later to convert Matthieu Udol’s cross.
With Said’s strike proving decisive, the result further paints a picture of two teams moving in very different directions. Whilst Lens have won five-straight and sit four points clear at the top of Ligue 1, Nantes are now winless in six games, and more worryingly sit three points adrift of safety, having also played a game more than their rivals around the drop zone.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ruben Aguilar (Lens)