A 2-1 victory at Angers on Sunday pushed the northern team one point ahead of the European champions Paris Saint-Germain and two points in front of the heavily invested Marseille, placing them at the summit for the first time since August 2004.
Unlike that brief early-season lead twenty years ago, this ascent has been built over months through collective effort, tactical precision, and smart recruitment.
Lens coach Pierre Sage has been the key strategist.
Without altering the club’s identity, he enhanced an already intense pressing style, structured around a back three, and made selective additions instead of headline signings.
"We haven't reached our peak in football yet," Sage stated. "The results reward the players, but progress takes time. There is still room for improvement."
Championship talk is premature
Talk of the title is still early, yet even club legend and former president Gervais Martel, who led them to their only top-tier title in 1998, couldn’t resist commenting.
"This team is unstoppable," Martel told French sports daily L'Equipe. "They defend while pushing forward and force opponents into errors. Why not dream of becoming champions?”
The context makes Lens’ position even more remarkable because just months ago, the focus was on financial caution.
Rather than splurging, they targeted player profiles that fit Sage’s system—Malian midfielder Mamadou Sangare, centre-back Samson Baidoo, and goalkeeper Robin Risser as well as experienced World Cup winner Florian Thauvin.
He scored the goals at Angers with his first Ligue 1 brace since 2019. Both goals were dedicated to Jonathan Gradit, who is sidelined for at least four months after leg fracture surgery.
Gradit later spoke to the team from his hospital bed via video call, emphasizing the collective spirit behind Lens’ rise.
"The coach, staff, and management have done an incredible job,” said forward Florian Sotoca. "Everyone is united, and our daily efforts show on the field."
Even captain Adrien Thomasson admitted the team had surpassed internal expectations.
"At the start, we never imagined being here after 14 matches," Thomasson said. "But it rewards what we’ve worked for. We stay humble because we aren’t superior to everyone. We simply deserve to be where we are."
Lens lead France’s elite by merit, through intensity, unity, and tactical discipline.
Whether this will evolve into a lasting title challenge is uncertain, but for a club still adapting to higher ambitions, simply standing above PSG and Marseille is proof that northern determination can shake up the established hierarchy.
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