Lens Beat Lyon for Cahuzac’s First Win as Lille Settles Long-Running Stadium Rent Dispute
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Lens beat Lyon 2-1 on Friday for Yannick Cahuzac’s first win as head coach, ending a four-match winless run, L’Équipe reported. Florian Sotoca, recalled to the starting line-up for the first time this season, opened the scoring in the 36th minute before Matthieu Udol headed in a second from a Florian Thauvin free-kick in the 76th, despite being sent off moments later; Lyon pulled one back through Khalis Merah in the 85th but could not find an equaliser, with Lens climbing to seventh.
The Lille Metropole authority (MEL) voted late Friday to accept repayment of unpaid rent from LOSC, ending a dispute that had been before the administrative tribunal, L’Équipe reported. Lille will pay 24.8 million euros plus 1.8 million euros in interest on the arrears, clearing the way for the club to buy out construction group Eiffage’s operating rights to the Decathlon Arena Pierre-Mauroy, though the deal cannot close for at least four months.
Transfer and squad notes
Lyon forward Lois Openda was injured and substituted in the 58th minute of the defeat at Lens after a challenge from Ismaelo Ganiou, L’Équipe reported, with Keito Nakamura coming on in his place. The setback added to a difficult night for Lyon, who had been unbeaten in Ligue 1 before the loss.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ferran Torres has been named Ligue 1’s Player of the Month for September, L’Équipe reported. The Spain international, a 50 million euro summer signing from Barcelona, had been nominated alongside Monaco’s Paris Brunner and Paris FC’s Lassine Sinayoko after scoring twice in three league matches in September, including a man-of-the-match display in PSG’s 2-1 win over Marseille in Le Classique on 20 September.
What it means for the league
Cahuzac’s first win offers early evidence that Lens can stabilise after a rocky managerial change, while Lyon’s loss — their first of the season — shows the physical toll of the long international break is already being felt, with Openda’s injury adding to their concerns. The Lille settlement removes a long-standing financial and legal overhang for LOSC, giving the club a clearer path to controlling its own stadium operations going forward. Torres’ individual award underlines PSG’s summer recruitment paying off early, even as the club’s deeper squad depth keeps the spotlight on both newer signings and the Classique result that helped define his month.