Strasbourg Draw with Lens Hits Ligue 1 Title Hopes

Lens ambitions for the French Ligue 1 championship encountered another obstacle on Friday through a 1-1 stalemate against Strasbourg, presenting reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain with a chance to widen their advantage at the top over the weekend.

After a 3-2 home defeat to Monaco in their previous match that handed the lead to PSG, Lens trailed first at the Stade de la Meinau but fought back with Mamadou Sangare scoring the leveller following Joaquin Panichellis opener for the home side.

Lens sit second, now only a single point adrift of PSG, yet the French and European title holders could stretch that margin to four by securing victory at relegation-threatened Le Havre on Saturday.

Panichelli opened the scoring for Strasbourg in the 18th minute in Alsace, the Argentine forward capitalising on a misplaced short pass from Ismaelo Ganiou to break clear and lob Lens keeper Robin Risser with a fine finish, marking his 14th league goal of the season.

This positions him level at the top of the Ligue 1 scoring list with Marseilles Mason Greenwood.

Lens dominated chances thereafter and levelled shortly after the hour when Malian midfielder Sangare struck off the post from distance, capitalising on a poorly cleared corner by Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders.

Odsonne Edouard squandered several clear opportunities for Lens, who could not capitalise on numerous openings and settled for a point, potentially restoring all initiative to PSG, winners in 11 of the last 13 editions.

Gary ONeils Strasbourg occupy seventh position, trailing Lille in fifth and Rennes in sixth by two points in the battle for European spots.

Strasbourg regretted the referees reversal of an initial penalty call, awarded then cancelled after Panichelli fell under pressure from Malang Sarr shortly following Lenses equaliser.

Rennes face Toulouse at home on Saturday, while eighth-placed Monaco could surpass Strasbourg with success against Angers before PSG travel to Le Havre in Normandy.

Third-placed Lyon head to fourth-placed Marseille on Sunday in a crucial clash for Champions League places.