A third consecutive league victory, coupled with Paris Saint-Germain slipping up 3-1 at Rennes on Friday, sent Pierre Sage's side one point clear of the champions.

Braces by Said and Rayan Fofana, either side of a Florian Thauvin penalty, moved Lens to 52 points, while struggling PFC remain in 15th place, eight points above the relegation zone.

"Whenever we have the opportunity, we will do everything we can to take first place and keep it," Thauvin told L1+.

"We know it will be difficult, there's a lot of matches left... We're not getting carried away. We keep going."

The visitors tore out of the blocks at Stade Jean-Bouin as Said hit the post and Florian Thauvin had a goal disallowed for offside inside the opening quarter-hour.

But they were not to be contained for long as Odsonne Edouard teed up Said to open the scoring in the 24th minute.

Edouard was then denied by the flag minutes later, before Said doubled Lens' advantage seven minutes before the break when he capped off a fine team move with a flashing finish into the top corner.

2018 World Cup winner Thauvin made the points safe just shy of the hour as he slammed home from the spot after Otavio had fouled Saud Abdulhamid.

Fofana and Allan Saint-Maximin, on in place of Edouard and Said, continued the tormenting of PFC as they combined to add two goals in stoppage time.

Wesley Said

Achievements