The Alsatians scored their 14th success of the season thanks to a goal from Ludovic Ajorque from the penalty spot and took fourth place thanks to a better difference than Nice, hung by Rennes on Saturday (1-1).

The Strasbourg residents, undefeated for eight matches (4 wins, 4 draws), total 51 points and come back two lengths behind Rennais and Marseille, who travel to Saint-Etienne on Sunday afternoon.

Eight days before the end of the season, the players of Julien Stéphan, who will still play in their Meinau cauldron next weekend against a direct competitor, Lyon, can more than ever hope to win a place in the European Cup. .

For the Lensois, eighth with 44 points, the European dream may have gone away for good after this tenth defeat in the league, the second in a month.

The first period was rather closed between two well-established teams who did not deliver much.

Strasbourg imposed high pressing and a big physical challenge on Lens, which sometimes bent without breaking.

The only real chance for the Alsatians came shortly before half-time: Frédéric Guilbert stole the ball from the feet of Facundo Medina and appeared alone against Jean-Louis Leca, who diverted the attempt from the Strasbourg right-back (40th).

One successful penalty, one missed

The meeting came alive after the break as the spaces opened up.

The Sang et Or benefited from a big opportunity but David Pereira Da Costa, alone at the penalty spot on a cross from Przemyslaw Frankowski, sent his recovery into the clouds (51st).

Then Seko Fofana tried his luck from a distance but Matz Sels blocked in two stages (59th).

Ludovic Ajorque scored the only goal in Strasbourg's victory against RC Lens at the Meinau stadium on April 3, 2022 SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

The Strasbourgers then had success when a center from Guilbert was diverted by Frankowski's elbow.

The penalty was converted by Ajorque, who scored his 11th goal of the season, the first in almost three months (66th, 1-0).

In the process, the Reunion striker caused a new penalty after being unbalanced by Leca, but the Corsican goalkeeper caught up by repelling the shot from Kevin Gameiro (71st).

Lens then rushed to attack but almost got countered several times by Strasbourg who, after shaking a little at the end of the game, managed to preserve their precious victory.

© 2022 AFP