Ruben Aguilar’s Roller-Coaster Night Propels Lens Past Rennes and to Ligue 1 Summit

Paris — In a match that will live long in the memory of Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens overcame both Rennes and their own numerical disadvantage to claim a 3-1 victory that lifted them to the summit of Ligue 1 on Saturday evening.

The defining sequence arrived just after the hour mark: right-back Ruben Aguilar, already on a yellow card, rose unmarked to meet Florian Thauvin’s inviting left-wing cross and thundered a header past Mathys Silistrie for a 2-1 Lens lead. Within 120 seconds the same player was trudging off the pitch, his evening curtailed by a second caution after a mistimed tackle from behind.

Down to ten, Lens refused to retreat. In the 78th minute goalkeeper Robin Risser launched a long clearance that Allan Saint-Maximin killed dead on the left touchline. The 28-year-old winger, signed only at the winter window’s close, proceeded to slalom past two retreating defenders before unleashing a bending strike that rippled the far corner. His celebratory back somersault sent the home crowd into raptures and sealed a win that moves Lens one point clear of Paris Saint-Germain, who face Marseille on Sunday.

Rennes had struck first when Esteban Le Paul slipped behind the back line to finish coolly after Arnaud Nordin’s threaded pass. Lens levelled before the interval as Odsonne Édouard muscled past a marker and slid the ball through Silistrie’s legs. The visitors’ hopes dimmed further when central defender Jérémy Jacquet — bound for Liverpool next season — departed with a shoulder injury.

Elsewhere, Lyon stretched their winning streak to a dozen games with a 1-0 triumph at Nantes, Pavel Šulc converting after a botched short-corner routine. The result was overshadowed by Endrick’s dismissal; the Brazilian, on loan from Real Madrid, received a second yellow upgraded to red via VAR for a late challenge on Dehmaine Tabibou. Lyon climb to third, while Nantes remain in the promotion-relegation playoff spot after striking the woodwork three times.

In the Brittany derby, Brest eased past Lorient 2-0 through second-half goals from Rémy Labeau-Lascary and Ludovic Ajorque.

Lens now await PSG’s result on Sunday, but for one night at least the northerners stand alone at the top of French football.