Jean Canesse, Media365, published on Friday December 19, 2025 at 11:05 p.m.
Lens qualified for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France on Friday, after its victory at Bollaert against Feignies-Aulnoye (3-1, N2). Fofana, Abdulhamid and Bulatovic scored.
A peaceful first round for the Racing Club de Lens. For his entry into the Coupe de France this Friday, the leader of Ligue 1 spent a very quiet evening, in his stadium and in front of an audience as always there. Opposed to neighboring Feignies-Aulnoye, located 90 kilometers away, Pierre Sage’s players clearly dominated the debates to finally win 3-1 at Bollaert.
For this last match of the calendar year, against a fourth division team, Sage allowed himself the luxury of largely rotating his starting eleven with eight absent starters. Without Sangaré, present at the CAN, without Thauvin, left to rest, the Artesian coach also started without Risser, Aguilar, Udol, Thomasson, Saïd nor Edouard, all substitutes. This did not prevent Sotoca and others from playing a one-sided encounter, with for example 80% possession in the first half, a host of chances and two goals scored before half-time.
The two missed penalties from Lens
Not always precise in front of goal, Fofana first managed to open the scoring, with a header, after a good serve from Abdulhamid (1-0, 17th). A passer, the Lensois piston then turned into a scorer just before the break, launched by Guilavogui into the area and author of a nice brushed shot from the left (2-0, 45th + 1). Never worried in the first period, the Artesian team continued to dominate after returning from the locker room and missed three times the 3-0 ball before the hour mark. Sima lost a duel from the surface with goalkeeper Bernard (46th), a former Lens player who then stopped two penalties, those of Sotoca (49th) and Sarr (57th).
It was ultimately midfielder Butalovic who was able to increase his team’s lead, with a very off-center free kick which surprised everyone (3-0, 68th). The end of the match allowed Feignies to save the honor, the work of another former Lensois, Bonté, after a restart error from Gurtner (3-1, 85th). However, the gap was far too big to do better and hope to go further, the Sang et Or finishing 2025 with a qualification in the round of 16. They will resume in Toulouse on Friday January 2, for the resumption of Ligue 1.
