**Lens Narrowly Beats Nantes, Openda Scores Winner to Stay in Top Four**
In the thrilling football season finale, Lens secured a narrow victory over their arch-rivals Nantes, ensuring they maintain their position in the top four of the French Ligue 1 standings.
The match began with both teams showing strong defensive solidity, creating few opportunities for either side to break through. However, as the half progressed, Lens began to assert their dominance on the field. The home team's midfielders were particularly effective, controlling possession and finding gaps in the Nantes defense.
Midfielder Maxime Openda was at the heart of Lens's attacking play, showcasing his exceptional skills and creativity. His precise passes and dribbling abilities helped create numerous chances throughout the game. In the 75th minute, Openda delivered a beautifully crafted pass that found substitute midfielder Romain Pierre-Benoît in space, leading to Lens's winning goal.
The win was crucial for Lens, who had been under pressure to secure a spot in the Champions League. By outperforming Nantes in this match, they have now advanced to the final group stage of the competition. The club's manager, Emmanuel Zeller, expressed his satisfaction with the performance, saying, "We worked hard all season, and today we showed our true mettle."
Meanwhile, Nantes, despite losing, still holds a slim lead in the table. Their coach, Jean-Luc Mallette, acknowledged the effort but emphasized the need for improvement moving forward. He stated, "It's not easy to come away from such a tough match, but we will learn from it and continue striving for success."
As the match concluded, fans across France celebrated the hard-fought victory for Lens. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with supporters chanting and celebrating the team's comeback.
Looking ahead, Lens faces another challenge in the upcoming round of matches, where they will face off against leaders Paris Saint-Germain. The club must capitalize on their momentum and continue building upon their impressive form if they want to retain their top-four status in Ligue 1.