The visitors knew they needed a victory to keep their fading survival hopes alive, but it was the home side who created the better opportunities in a competitive first half.
Wesley Said came close to giving Lens the lead with eight minutes on the clock when he latched onto a cross-field pass before breaking into the area and unleashing a low effort which was well saved at the near post by Anthony Lopes. Abdallah Sima latched onto a cross into the area shortly after, but his goal-bound attempt was blocked by the recovering Canaries defence.
It was a bright start to the contest from Les Sang et Or, and they came close again moments later when Rayan Fofana’s snapshot from inside the area was blocked on the goal line. Nantes claimed an unlikely victory over Marseille last week to keep their survival quest going, and although they failed to register a shot on target in the first half, they will have been content to still be very much in the contest.
Nantes had claimed just two victories away from their Stade de la Beaujoire home this season, but they were showing plenty of fighting spirit against a Lens side who are still involved in the title race.
The visitors very nearly took the lead 11 minutes after the restart when a chipped ball into the area was met first time by Johann Lepenant, who sent his volley towards the bottom right-hand corner, but Robin Risser got across well to make an impressive save. Nantes looked the more threatening side at this stage, but they were counting their lucky stars soon after as Lens had two goals ruled out in as many minutes.
First, Said was adjudged to be offside, before Sima was ruled to have handled the ball before racing into the area and slotting past Lopes.
However, the Canaries’ fate was sealed with 12 minutes remaining as Les Sang et Nor made it third time lucky as the ball landed at the feet of Mezian Soares from a long throw into the area, and the midfielder made no mistake from close range to break the away side’s hearts.
The result sees Lens move to within three points of leaders Paris Saint-Germain, albeit they have played a game more, while Nantes are now guaranteed to finish 17th and are resigned to returning to the second tier 4,732 days after clinching promotion in May 2013.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ismaelo Ganiou (RC Lens)