**Key Lille Victory Over Lens: Bentaleb's Stoppage-Time Winner Secures Season's First Win**
In a thrilling encounter at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Lille secured their first league victory of the season with a dramatic stoppage-time goal from Moussa Bentaleb against Lens on Sunday afternoon.
The match began in earnest as both teams displayed high energy and enthusiasm throughout the opening half. Lille took the lead through a well-taken goal by Benjamin Tchouaméni in the 18th minute. However, Lens quickly responded with a counterattack, which was halted just before the break by Lille's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The second half saw both teams exchanging blows, with Lens dominating possession for much of the time. In the 79th minute, Lens equalized when a corner kick found its way to Alexandre Lacazette, who pounced on the opportunity to level the score.
As the game entered its final moments, Lille looked set to hold on for the win. However, Lens had one last chance to claim a draw. With 45 minutes remaining, Lens attempted a long-range shot from the edge of the box that deflected off the crossbar and into the net. The goal seemed too easy, but Lille goalkeeper Pierre-Louis Dossouy continued his excellent performance, making a crucial save to prevent the comeback.
But Lille refused to give up, and in the 92nd minute, they finally broke the deadlock. Moussa Bentaleb, a key player for Lille, stepped up to head home a brilliant stoppage-time effort from close range. This goal sealed the victory for Lille, securing their first league win of the season and giving them a morale-boosting boost heading into their next fixture.
The victory over Lens comes as a relief for Lille manager Thomas Frank, who has been searching for consistency throughout the campaign. It also marks a significant turning point in the team's fortunes, as they now have a better chance of advancing to the Europa League knockout stages.
Lille will now turn their attention to preparing for their upcoming fixtures, including a trip to Bordeaux on Tuesday night. With this victory under their belt, they are well-positioned to challenge for top spot in La Ligue 1.