Olympique Lyonnais opened their 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign with a 1-0 away victory over RC Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday. The decisive moment came in first-half stoppage time when Georgian striker Georges Mikautadze, set up by winger Malick Fofana, beat goalkeeper Brice Samba with a first-time finish. Lens pressed for an equaliser after the break and introduced new signing Florian Thauvin on the hour, but Lyon’s stand-in goalkeeper Rémy Descamps preserved the lead with a reflex save from Andy Diouf. Corentin Tolisso nearly doubled Lyon’s advantage with a long-range volley that clipped the bar. The win gives Paulo Fonseca’s side an early three points and spoils Lens coach Pierre Sage’s first Ligue 1 match in charge of his former club. Lyon, who narrowly escaped relegation two seasons ago, top the provisional table pending the weekend’s remaining fixtures.