Justin Kluivert is your final Crédit Agricole PCA Aiglon of the Match of 2021. With a hard-working, match-winning display, the Dutch international gave Le Gym a precious 2-1 victory over RC Lens. Mario Lemina and Youcef Atal complete the leading trio with 8% and 6% of the votes respectively.

When Justin Kluivert accelerated before breaking into the Lens penalty area with 10 minutes of normal time left to play, time stood still at the Allianz Riviera. The 22,065 supporters held their breath, sensing that something might happen. And indeed, something did happen. Something wonderful. After being played in by Pablo Rosario, the winger accelerated, then broke through the middle like a lightning bolt, leaving Yannick Cahuzac by the wayside and pulling the trigger before Jonathan Gradit could close him down. Jean-Louis Leca was beaten at his near post, and Kluivert was able to celebrate his second goal for Le Gym – the second at the Allianz Riviera following the one against Bordeaux – with the Rouge et Noir fans. He even came close to a brace a few moments later before his curled effort struck the bar.

Beyond his goal, Kluivert posed a constant threat to the Lens backline through his ”carefreeness”, according to coach Galtier, his ability to break through the lines and his speed. Having been out for eight weeks with injury during the first half of the season, the former Ajax man has come back with a bang and helped Les Aiglons to reach the halfway stage of the league campaign in second place.

Mario Lemina, the scorer of the opening goal of the evening with a magnificent volley from a Hicham Boudaoui cross, sits behind Kluivert in the top three. The Gabonese international, who was ubiquitous in the middle of the park, went above and beyond the call of duty to level things up in style with his first-ever goal for Les Rouge et Noir. Finally, Youcef Atal picks up third place. The tireless right-back spared no effort, relentlessly doing battle with Przemysław Frankowski.

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