The future of RC Lens in this 2023-2024 edition of the Champions League is, at the end of this fourth day of the group stage, very unclear. At the end of the sixth and final match, we will obviously only remember the raw result: qualified, not qualified? Reverted to the Europa League or, worse, eliminated altogether?
So many debates and considerations which should not erase, for those who saw this Lensoise team evolve on the biggest of stages, the memory of a hard-working and combative team, which played its luck dearly despite its very small status. facing a large forest. A team that never forgot to pick up its European tuxedo from the dry cleaners before these big matches, even when its everyday clothes, those of Ligue 1, seemed faded and patched.
A daggers drawn match
This Wednesday evening, under the incessant rain which waterlogged the pitch of the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven, Lens unfortunately conceded its first European defeat of the season. The two teams went blow for blow, both in the game and outside of it in this match which did not take much to become electric (27 fouls, 8 yellow cards including 6 for Lensois, one red) . The 14 shots (7 on target) from the Dutch were responded to by the 14 (3 on target) from the North, at a frantic pace.
As against Sevilla, Arsenal and in the first leg against PSV, the Sang & Or conceded the opener. So solid in the first leg in all the duels, the Lensois defenders let that devil of Johan Bakayoko, who had hurt them at Bollaert, find Luuk de Jong in the air. The strength and precision of the heading game of the Batavian veteran, 33, left little chance to Brice Samba, otherwise imperial.
But unlike these first three matches, Lens did not manage to come back to the score. Not this time, not when success eluded him a little, when the actions that should have been successful were missed. Whether it’s the speed or precision of Wahi (4th, 45th+3, 76th), the ill-timed slips of Machado (42nd, 60th), this free kick from Fulgini deflected by Benítez (69th) or this ultimate dream of an equalizer signed Guilavogui who crashed into the post (88th) just after a decisive save from Samba (86th). Nothing was done horribly wrong, but nothing was enough.
Lens has nothing to be ashamed of
Enough to feed some regrets, because of these two matches against the bulimic Eredivisie leader (11 matches, 11 victories), Lens has everything but to be ashamed. The intensity put into the physical battle, to resist the Batavian offensive waves or the monstrous pressing put in the midfield, reminded us that it was indeed this Lens team which held off PSG last season in League 1.
But with this defeat, Lens falls one place in the group B standings. Second place goes to their evening opponents, thanks to the particular goal difference since the two teams have five points. Ahead, far ahead, Arsenal crushed Sevilla FC (2-0) and took first place (9 points). The Gunners will be the next challenge for Franck Haise’s men, who will discover the Emirates on November 29.
