Standard Liège traveled to France during the international break and suffered a 2-0 defeat against RC Lens in a friendly match at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The fixture allowed both clubs to maintain match sharpness while domestic league action paused for national team fixtures, with the French side seizing control early through an opening goal before sealing the result in the second half.
Early Breakthrough for Lens Sets the Tone
Standard head coach Vincent Euvrard deployed a starting lineup closely resembling the side that featured against Gent in the final Belgian Pro League fixture before the international window.
Florian Thauvin Scores Penalty to Secure 2-0 Lead
As the match progressed past the hour mark, the visitors introduced several changes to manage player workloads. Goalkeeper Senijad Dizdarevic replaced Pirard at the hour mark, while fresh legs entered the outfield as various substitutes took to the pitch. Despite the changes, Lens extended their advantage in the 71st minute when former France international Florian Thauvin converted a penalty kick to secure a 2-0 scoreline. Standard’s squad also missed several key figures beyond Epolo, with Ryan Fosso and Marco Ilaimaharitra similarly unavailable due to international commitments, alongside the unexplained absence of midfielder Alexis Trouillet.
Standard Liège Looks Ahead to Charleroi
Following the friendly excursion in northern France, Standard Liège turns its full attention back to the domestic campaign. The team’s immediate priority is the upcoming Belgian Pro League fixture against Charleroi at home, where Vincent Euvrard’s squad will seek to reintegrate their returning internationals and translate training objectives into league points. Kickoff times and television broadcast details for the upcoming fixture remain subject to official league scheduling confirmations.
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