Ligue 1: Montpellier claim narrow 1-0 victory over Lens

A stoppage-time winner from Anthony Mounier was enough to give Montpellier a 1-0 win over 10-man Lens and keep alive their Europa League hopes.

The result means the visitors are just three points behind Bordeaux, with the two sides due to face each other on the final day of the season in what could be a decider for a final European spot.

Montpellier started well and had an early chance for an opener but Mounier failed to make decent enough contact on his shot after escaping the attention of Taylor Moore from Abdelhamid Kaoutari's long ball.

Remy Riou was tested on the quarter-hour mark as the visitors continued to dominate the early exchanges, but the Lens stopper did magnificently well to push away Siaka Tiene's excellent 25-yard free-kick.

Having weathered the early storm, though, Lens grew into the game as the first half wore on and Jonathan Ligali had to be alert to get down well and turn away Moore's volley for the hosts that seemed destined to creep in the bottom corner.

Having gone in at the break level, it was Montpellier who went closest to scoring earliest in the second half but Jona Martin blazed over from Tiene's delivery before Lens had seemingly stonewall penalty turned down when Wylan Cyprien took a tumble inside the area.

Chances of a Lens victory all but diminished in the 65th minute when Loic Landre was given his marching orders for a second yellow card following a tackle from behind on Mounier.

Montpellier smelled blood and Jamel Saihi went agonisingly close from the edge of the area after pouncing on a poor clearance before, moments later, Kevin Berigaud's effort flirted dangerously with the bottom of the left post.

It was looking like Lens were going escape with a point, though, until Mounier popped up in added time to break the hosts' hearts.

Making his debut, Ellyes Skhiri was the architect and his ball released Montpellier through on goal who kept his nerve to confidently lift the ball over substitute stopper Valentin Belon to steal a vital three points for Montpellier.