Both sides benefited from penalties as Lens and Bastia played out a 1-1 draw in Ligue 1 this evening.

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Lens dominated the early stages of the contest and came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Pierrick Valdivia dragged an effort just wide from the edge of the box.

Lalaina Nomenjanahary followed his teammate by example with a clever run from midfield, but the end product was similar as he curled past the post.

Despite their dominance, Lens' lack of a cutting edge halted their progress as Bastia frustrated the visitors with a stubborn defensive display in the first half.

The opening exchanges of the second half followed a similar pattern as Rudy Riou was forced to get a hand to Wylan Cyprien's powerful effort to keep Bastia level.

His side then broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 62nd minute as Ryad Boudebouz slotted home from the penalty spot, after Dimitri Kevin Cavare had fouled Julian Palmieri in the box.

Lens piled the pressure on as they went in search of a response, and they were awarded a penalty of their own when Sebastien Squillaci pulled down Adamo Coulibaly.

Ahmed Kantari stepped up to convert under pressure from 12 yards as Lens claimed the point that their dominance deserved.