Georges Mikautadze scored the one objective as Lyon received their Ligue 1 marketing campaign off to a profitable begin at Lens on Saturday.

Mikautadze struck on the finish of the primary half to present the seven-time Ligue 1 champions their first win since American businesswoman Michele Kang took over as president in June to avoid wasting the membership from relegation after compatriot John Textor resigned amid monetary irregularities.

Lyon turned the web page on this period by profitable in opposition to their former coach Pierre Sage, who took over at Lens after Will Nonetheless’s departure.

Financially constrained for summer season signings, Lyon constructed its success with what it already had with strikers Malick Fofana and Mikautadze and midfield stalwart Corentin Tolisso combining properly.

Fofana ran rings across the Lens defence, breaking by means of on the finish of the primary half when he supplied a really perfect cross to Mikautadze.

Regardless of 18 photographs on objective, Lens had been unable to ship with Wesley Mentioned and Deiver Machado each lacking quite a few possibilities.

New recruit Florian Thauvin got here off the bench for Lens after 57 minutes to rapturous applause from the house followers however regardless of bringing creativity and freshness, the World Cup winner couldn’t make the distinction.

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