Lens weakened their chances of winning the French league title this season with a 1-1 draw against hosts Nice in a match held as part of the 32nd round of the tournament, which witnessed the expulsion of Lens defender, Saudi Saud Abdul Hamid.
Lens took the lead through Allan Saint-Maximin in the 61st minute, before the 81st minute witnessed a decisive turning point in the course of the match, when Saoud Abdul Hamid received a straight red card after tripping Nice player Sofiane Diop while the latter was trying to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper, forcing his team to complete the remaining minutes with only ten players.
Nice took advantage of their opponent's numerical disadvantage and equalized with a goal scored by Tunisian defender Ali Abdi in the 84th minute.
With this draw, Nice widened the gap between themselves and Auxerre, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, to six points with two rounds remaining in the competition.
Lens, on the other hand, raised its tally to 64 points in second place, but failed to take advantage of the stumble of its rival, Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champion and leader with 70 points, who drew 2-2 with Lorient in the same round of matches.
