Sunday evening, the Lensois coach Franck Haise will be able to quietly await the result of Paris SG in Lille, great regional rival.

Because he and his team could not do better in Monaco.

They offered a real show of force against Monegasques who were overwhelmed from the first to the last minute and were finally reduced to ten at the end of the match.

In front of more than 1,000 Lensois supporters who did not stop encouraging them, captain Seko Fofana, still beaming in the middle, and his teammates made short work of their opponents.

Last season, the Artésiens had already come to win at Louis-II without discussion (2-0) during the 3rd day.

On the return, on the last day, they also equalized in stoppage time, depriving Monaco of 2nd place and direct qualification for the Champions League.

The seasons pass but the Lensoise superiority remains.

Monaco has not won against the Sang et Or in L1 since April 26, 2014, an eternity.

And this time, Wissam Ben Yedder and his family have never been able to compete in front of Prince Albert present in the gallery.

It's a huge blow for coach Philippe Clement, who hadn't lost in L1 since the trip to Strasbourg (1-0) on March 13.

And since February 27 at the Louis-II stadium, against Reims (2-1).

Invisible minamino

Too many players, starting with rookie Takumi Minamino, or Wissam Ben Yedder, have been below the required level.

From the first minute, the Lensois walked on Monegasques unable to react.

Like a boxer in pain, Philippe Clement's team took a multitude of blows without being able to respond.

First, after Florian Sotoca's shift, David Pereira Da Costa overflowed on the right side to cross perfectly and offer a caviar to Loïs Openda.

Alone at the far post, the young Belgian international did not miss the opportunity to score his first goal in an official match in his new colors (0-1, 7th).

Without reactivity in the middle, Philippe Clement's men then saw Seko Fofana, absolutely alone at the entrance to the surface, not framing his flat foot following a new overflow from Openda on the side of Caio Henrique ( 18th).

The cool break (30th) did not help Clement to restore order.

After a school ball outing, Fofana launched Machado, who took over Vanderson before scoring (0-2, 38th).

The goal from a corner from the head of Benoît Badiashile (1-2, 41st) and the entry of the latest recruit, the Malian Mohamed Camara, in place of Eliot Matazo at the break, did not change anything.

Breel Embolo, who has spent his time running in the void, fouls Sotoca in the box.

Fofana scored the penalty (1-3, 55th).

After the exclusion of Vanderson (72nd), Monaco gave up.

Wesley Saïd took the opportunity to close the recital (1-4, 78th).

If Lens was superb, Monaco, which did not see the light of day, is preparing to experience complicated days: its next opponent, Sunday August 28, is called Paris SG.

© 2022 AFP