Amadou Haidara scores as Lens beat Metz to close gap on PSG

Amadou Haidara made an instant impact off the bench, scoring in RC Lens’s 3–0 victory over FC Metz in the Ligue 1.

Lens opened the scoring late in the first half through Saud Abdulhamid in the 44th minute, before Florian Thauvin doubled the lead early in the second half in the 46th minute.

Haidara then sealed the win with the third goal in the 52nd minute, shortly after coming on as a substitute. The Malian midfielder had entered the match at halftime, replacing Nidal Čelik, and quickly made his presence felt on the scoresheet.

Unis pour le sprint final 🪢

Les Lensois célèbrent avec leur public après cette belle victoire ❤️💛#RCLFCM pic.twitter.com/TxkROT77JL

— L1+ (@ligue1plus) March 8, 2026

The goal marked Haidara’s first for Lens since returning from international duty with the Mali national football team at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.

With the victory, Lens reduced the gap to league leaders Paris Saint-Germain FC to just one point, after PSG suffered a 3–1 defeat to AS Monaco in the same round.

Lens now sit second in the Ligue 1 standings with 56 points, intensifying the race for the title.

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