Trailing, the Sang et Or managed to avoid defeat at home thanks to Elye Wahi on Tuesday (1-1). They now occupy 2nd place in Group B behind Arsenal.
Lens did not come away with victory, but the hopes of qualification are safe. Three weeks after remarkably defeating Arsenal, the Sang et Or conceded a draw at home in the Champions League, Tuesday October 24, against PSV Eindhoven (1-1). Everything was not easy for Franck Haise’s players, as it has been since the start of the season, but they were able to come back to the score, after being behind, thanks to a goal from Elye Wahi (65th).
Lens would perhaps have left Bollaert with a defeat this evening, without a touch of flair from Franck Haise. Three minutes before his scorer’s equalizer, the coach made a triple change. The stadium announcer then informed the public of Wahi’s exit, who received a few whistles, before changing his mind and announcing that of Florian Sotoca. Less than ten minutes later, Wahi came out to the cheers of the Lensois supporters, aware of the importance of his goal.
Lens made a big start
This draw keeps Lens in a good position for the race to qualify for the round of 16. A totally unexpected objective for a club that was still in Ligue 2 three years ago and which has been struggling since the start of the season in the bottom of the Ligue 1 ranking (15th). But victory calls for others and the feat achieved against Arsenal at the beginning of October had raised great expectations.
Applauded at the end of the match by the public, the Lensois players will officially be able to be satisfied with this draw result, after having reminded in recent days that they would not be favorites in this meeting. Unofficially, they may regret not having materialized their very good start to the match. Opposite, the Dutch were only dangerous in the stands, where PSV supporters spent the entire half-time throwing snatched seats at their Sang et Or counterparts.
Three points ahead of 3rd
While Brice Samba had nothing to do during the first half hour, it was Lens who almost fell behind after the post found by Hirving Lozano (27th). A first warning before the goal scored by Johan Bakayoko (54th) on a strike where the goalkeeper of the France team could have been decisive. Jostled at times by the leaders of the Dutch championship, Lens was unable to take the advantage at the end of the match despite the support of its supporters.
The Sang et Or can still boast of having in their ranks players ready to go hard, like the defensive line made up of warriors Jonathan Gradit, Kevin Danso and Facundo Medina. Lens ultimately lacked precision in the last gesture, a recurring problem in recent weeks.
Despite everything, the Artois club remains undefeated in this Champions League, is 2nd in its group behind Arsenal, winner in Seville (2-1), and maintains three points ahead of 3rd. Qualification has not yet been achieved but Franck Haise’s players can continue to think about this sweet dream, the course of which will resume on November 8, with the Sang et Or traveling to Eindhoven for the return match.