NICE (Interstat) — Substitute Allan Saint-Maximin scored in the 60th minute and defender Ali Abdi equalized in the 84th minute as Nice and Racing Club de Lens played to a 1-1 draw Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Allianz Riviera in a Ligue 1 season opener.

Both teams entered the match with identical records across all competitions — zero wins, zero losses and one draw — and left with the same mark after a physical contest that featured five yellow cards and one red card.

Saint-Maximin, who came off the bench, opened the scoring in the 60th minute. Defender Melvin Bard provided the assist. Lens equalized in the 84th minute when defender Ali Abdi found the net, with defender Abdulai Juma Bah credited with the helper.

The match turned contentious in the second half. Defender Saud Abdulhamid received a red card in the 81st minute, leaving Lens with 10 men. Abdi’s goal came three minutes later. The earlier yellow cards were issued to substitute Malang Sarr in the 27th minute, substitute Florian Thauvin in the 44th minute, Bah in the 45th minute, substitute Adrien Thomasson in the 82nd minute and Bard in the 90th minute.

Key performances included Saint-Maximin’s goal, Abdi’s goal and assists from Bard, Bah, Sarr, Thomasson and Thauvin. All assists were credited to substitutes or defenders: Bard, a defender, had one assist; Bah, a defender, had one; Sarr, a substitute, had one; Thomasson, a substitute, had one; and Thauvin, a substitute, had one.

The draw marked an even start for both sides in the Ligue 1 campaign. Nice and Lens each finished with one goal and one point in the standings.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Racing Club de Lens 2, Nice 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Nice with a 65.70 percent probability to win.