Monaco go top of Ligue 1 with a 2-1 win over Lens sealed by a late own goal

Monaco are top of Ligue 1, and it took a Lens defender turning the ball into his own net to get them there. Paris Brunner put the hosts ahead just before the half-hour at the Stade Louis-II on Friday night, Matthieu Udol headed Lens level from a corner early in the second half, and then Jonathan Gradit, sent on as a substitute, diverted Vanderson's low cross past his own goalkeeper with six minutes left to win it 2-1.

It was Monaco's fourth win in five matchdays and stretched their unbeaten start to the season. For Lens, it was the first game since sacking head coach Dino Toppmöller after just six matches in charge — his replacement, former Lens midfielder Yannick Cahuzac, lost his first match on the touchline.

How it went

• 32' — Paris Brunner (Monaco)
• 57' — Matthieu Udol (Lens), header from a Florian Thauvin corner
• 84' — Jonathan Gradit, own goal (Monaco)

Brunner's finish was his fourth league goal in five appearances this season, extending the best start of his young career. Lens responded well after the break — Udol rose above the Monaco back line to head in Thauvin's corner and level the match — but the response did not last. Vanderson worked a low ball across the box in the closing stages, and Gradit, on for Lens only as a substitute, could not get out of the way of it in time.

Monaco's unbeaten run, one result at a time

This was Monaco's fifth match of the league season and their fourth win, following victories over Le Havre (1-0), Marseille (2-0) and PSG away (1-2), with the only blemish a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg last time out. Four wins and a draw from five is the division's best record, and Monaco have now gone the entire season without losing — the only side in Ligue 1 that can say so this deep into the campaign.

A rough week made rougher for Lens

Lens arrived at the Stade Louis-II already unsettled. Toppmöller's sacking after six games in all competitions handed the job to Cahuzac, who had been part of his coaching staff and previously played for the club. Results before the change had been mixed: Lens opened the league season with a 5-2 win over Auxerre, then lost at Strasbourg and at home to Lorient before beating Slavia Praha 3-2 away in the Champions League and drawing 2-2 at Le Mans. A defeat in the new coach's first match in charge means Lens have won only one of their last five in the league.

What the table now says

Monaco's win puts them three points clear of Lille and Rennes, both on 10 points, with the rest of matchday 5 still to be played over the weekend — this was only the Friday-night opener to the round. Lens stay 10th on 4 points, level on goal difference with several sides in the bottom half but well adrift of the pace Monaco are setting at the top.

Match stats

Line-ups

What's next

Monaco sit top of Ligue 1 on 13 points, three clear of Lille and Rennes before the rest of matchday 5 is played this weekend, and still unbeaten five games into the season. Lens drop to 10th on 4 points and now face an immediate rebuild under Cahuzac after a defeat in his first match in the dugout, with the rest of the round shaping up around them.