against the run of play, Lens beats Sevilla FC and secures a place in the Europa League

Winners of Sevilla FC (2-1) Tuesday at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium on the last day of the Champions League, the Sang et Or will compete in the Europa League play-offs in February.

RC Lens has its consolation prize. Eliminated from the Champions League on the 5th day and their heavy defeat against Arsenal (0-6), the Sang et Or made up for it in front of their home crowd, Tuesday December 12, against Sevilla FC (2-1). Thanks to this victory against the Andalusian club, with great success and a goal at the very end of the match from Angelo Fulgini (90th + 6), Lens will be able to compete in the Europa League, with the play-offs of the elimination phase in February.

This qualification and this victory, the Lensois did not steal it, but almost. The goal scored by Fulgini on a final counter-attack freed the entire audience at the Bollaert stadium, plunged into anxiety during the last quarter of an hour, after Sergio Ramos’ equalizer from the penalty spot (79th). A Sevillian goal and the Sang et Or were eliminated. The content of the match between Franck Haise’s players left us fearing the worst.

Sevillian domination from start to finish

Because during the entire match, the Lensois suffered. In the wake of the match at Arsenal, they were dominated, territorially, technically and in commitment. The Artesian club only needed a draw to be transferred to the Europa League, Sevilla FC needed a victory to overtake Lens in 3rd place, and for almost an hour, this was obvious. It took Brice Samba’s tap on Ivan Rakitic’s long shot for the score not to reflect this Andalusian domination (29th).

In the first half, and that says a lot, the Lensois did not touch a ball in the opposing area, a first since the appointment of Franck Haise on the bench in 2020. The start of the second period was more encouraging but the first action was from Sevilla, with Adria Pedrosa’s strike which ended on Samba’s bar (57th). Three minutes later, the crowd at the Bollaert stadium let out a loud blow, for the first time in this match.

Lens will know its opponent in C3 on December 18

On one of the all too rare Lensoise counter-attacks, Facundo Medina obtained a penalty following a foul by former Lille player Boubakary Soumaré. Przemyslaw Frankowski then gave Lens an advantage that was far from deserved (63rd). About ten minutes later, Facundo Medina was at fault this time, catching Youssef En-Nesyri in his area. Initially, Brice Samba saved his team by repelling Sergio Ramos’ penalty (78th). But the French goalkeeper had left his line at the time of the shot.

Brice Samba was unable to do anything on the second attempt by the ex-Parisian defender (79th) and for long minutes, we believed that Lens was going to be overtaken by its condition of little thumb in the Champions League. The feat against Arsenal at the beginning of October (2-1) seemed very far away. Angelo Fulgini finally went for victory and the six French clubs entered in the European Cup at the start of the season will compete in a continental competition in February. RC Lens will compete in the play-offs of the knockout phase of the Europa League. He will know his opponent, a runner-up in the C3 group, on December 18 following the draw.