Young attacking midfielder David Pereira da Costa was invited to the Lens team which faces Sevilla FC at home on Tuesday (6:45 p.m.) in the last match of the Champions League group stage.
The 22-year-old Portuguese starts for the first time in his career in the prestigious European club competition. Already starting during the last two Sang et Or meetings against Lyon (3-2) then in Montpellier (0-0), the N.10 trained at the club convinced his coach Franck Haise to put his name on the match sheet for the reception of Sevilla FC for this decisive match.
Lens will finish third in their group if they do not lose against the Andalusian club, and will thus reach a play-off for the round of 16 of the Europa League. The presence of the “Little Prince of Gaillette” in support of scorer Elye Wahi is the only surprise in the Lensois starting eleven. Adrien Thomasson and Angelo Fulgini, who until then occupied this position alongside Florian Sotoca, therefore start on the bench.
As expected, Ruben Aguilar starts the match well at the right piston position and pushes Przemyslaw Frankowski to the left side, to compensate for the absence of Deiver Machado, injured.
Opposite, Sevilla FC fields a team without many executives, injured or suspended. Frenchman Boubakary Soumaré starts in midfield, behind Youssef En-Nesyri and Oliver Torres, as does young Kike Salas (21) in the Sevillian defense, next to Sergio Ramos.
As expected, Croatian No.10 Ivan Rakitic will wear the captain’s armband.
Lens: Samba (cap.) – Gradit, Dance, Medina – Aguilar, Mendy, Abdul Samed, Frankowski – Sotoca, Pereira da Costa – Wahi
Seville FC: Dmitrovic – Juanlu, Gudelj, Ramos, Kike Salas, Pedrosa – Sow, Soumare, Rakitic (cap.) – Torres, En-Nesyri