Paris Saint-Germain’s earlier draw with Lorient breathed life back into Lens’ title push, and a clash with lowly Nice gave them a good opportunity to put pressure on Les Parisiens at the top of the table. Before the break, though, the hosts gave as good as they got and caused Les Sang et Or problems.
Their best chance came courtesy of Juma Bah, whose free header was fantastically saved by Robin Risser, but they ultimately failed to find the back of the net for a ninth successive match.
Meanwhile, as the half progressed, Lens took control of the game and went close twice through Mamadou Sangare and once via Odsonne Edouard.
Within seconds of the restart, Mohamed-Ali Cho fired well wide of the target in one of the few further chances before the hour mark.
Then, out of nowhere, Lens took the lead through Allan Saint-Maximin following a lovely through ball from Adrien Thomasson, with the winger going round Diouf before strolling into an empty net from outside the area.
That goal appeared to give Lens extra impetus, and Florian Thauvin almost sealed the win with a curling effort from distance that instead glanced the top of the crossbar.
However, with a little under 10 minutes remaining, Lens were reduced to 10 men when Saud Abdulhamid was sent off for bringing Sofiane Diop down on the edge of the penalty area as the last man.
And from the resulting free-kick, Diop’s effort ricocheted into the path of Ali Abdi, who buried through Risser’s legs from close range. That goal came out of nowhere, and while Les Aiglons were subsequently full of confidence, they were unable to complete the turnaround.
The result leaves Lens six points adrift of PSG at the summit, and while they still have to play the reigning champions, they now need them to lose another game while also surrendering their large goal difference advantage to have any hope of winning the league.
Nice, on the other hand, are now six points clear of the relegation play-off spot, albeit having played a game more than Auxerre with two matches left to get through themselves.