Thauvin scores against club he controversially left as Lens beats Lille in Ligue 1

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PARIS (AP) — Florian Thauvin scored against the club he controversially left as Lens beat Lille 3-0 to move up to fourth place in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

The victory ended third-placed Lille’s unbeaten start to the season, leaving leader Paris Saint-Germain as the only unbeaten side.

Thauvin was a promising 20-year-old winger with an eye for goal when Lille signed him from Corsican side Bastia in January 2013. He was sent back on loan to Bastia for the rest of that season, but then stunned Lille by aggressively pushing for a move to Marseille that summer.

The transfer went through without Thauvin playing a single game for Lille, making him vastly unpopular with its fans.

Saturday's match opposed two veterans from France's victorious 2018 World Cup squad: Thauvin and Lille striker Olivier Giroud.

After forward Wesley Saïd put Lens ahead in the 28th minute following a low corner, Thauvin made it 2-0 close to halftime after latching onto Saïd's long pass. Rayan Fofana added the third goal from close range in the 52nd.

Despite Lille being a fierce northern rival, the Lens home fans applauded Giroud when he was substituted late on.

Earlier, substitute Youssef El-Arabi scored six minutes into stoppage time as Nantes salvaged a 2-2 draw agains Rennes, which led through first-half goals from striker Estéban Lepaul and midfielder Ludovic Blas.

Midfielder Junior Mwanga replied for Nantes midway through the second half, but the home side's chances appeared over when Matthis Abline's penalty was saved by Brice Samba in the second minute of stoppage time.

However, a poor clearance from Rennes led to a cross and the 38-year-old El-Arabi swept in his his first goal for the club — 14 years after his last goal in Ligue 1 with Caen.

Ludovic Ajorque scored early on and then provided three assists as Brest won against Nice 4-1.

Winger Romain Del Castillo, defender Joris Chotard and forward Rémy Labeau-Lascary got Brest's other goals, while Nigeria forward Terem Moffi scored for Nice.

Marseille faces bitter rival Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Velodrome on Sunday. Heavy rainfall and storms were predicted in the region overnight, potentially affecting the game.

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