Lens ultimately did no better than Rennes and Toulouse, the three French clubs being eliminated this Thursday during the Europa League play-offs. Lens – held in check at Bollaert (0-0) by Friborg – nevertheless managed to make the difference during the first act thanks to goals from David Pereira Da Costa (28th) and Elye Wahi (45th 2nd).
However, in the second half, Friborg took control of the match and completely turned the game around. The Sang et Or only suffered, leaving the ball to the locals (64% possession). The latter increased the attacks, with Roland Sallai in particular, at the conclusion of the first goal. Brice Samba then carried his team by making several saves, before giving in in added time (90th 3) on a new strike from the same Sallai, who had benefited from a small mix-up in the Lens penalty area.
Stunned, the Lensois did not really react in overtime. The Sang et Or no longer offered themselves any clear chances and finally conceded a final goal, scored by Gregoritsch, then defeat, synonymous with elimination. A rather logical result in view of the match (3.29 Expected Goals for Fribourg, against 0.76 for the RCL), which gives a new blow to French football.
The miracle did not take place this Thursday evening at Roazhon Park where there was a Champions League atmosphere. Swept in the first leg (3-0), Rennes is officially eliminated from the competition despite its victory against AC Milan (3-2; 3-5 cumulative score). However, the feat became more and more credible from the start of the game. Multiplying the offensives, Julien Stéphan’s men found the entry point thanks to a perfect cross strike from Bourigeaud (11th). Shy and feverish, the Rossoneri finally reacted 11 minutes later with Jovic (replacing Olivier Giroud) with a header, after a perfect cross from Théo Hernandez. Maignan, on a strike from Kalimuendo, saved his team (27th) with a superb reflex save.
In the second half, the Rennais came back with the same intentions and, following a mistake by Kjaer, Benjamin Bourigeaud converted his first penalty (2-1, 54th). But there too, four minutes later, on a disagreement from the Rennes defense, Leao pushed into the back of the net to put his team back on level terms (2-2, 58th). Steve Mandanda’s teammates continued their frantic pace and after a hand from Gabbia in his area, Bourigeaud scored his third goal of the match (3-2, 68th). The Breton assaults at the end of the game were not enough. Rennes still leaves through the front door.
After an “encouraging” defeat (2-1) on the pitch at the Estadio de la Luz in Lisbon, Toulouse gave itself the right to dream about returning home. And they held on to that dream for the entirety of the first half. From the start, the Stadium pushed and demanded the feat, so Téfécé complied and took out the entry warm-up blue. They went after Benfica in their camp, even getting the first chances. The excess of energy nevertheless cost them a complicated end to the half. Twice, the Lisbonites could have put an end to the opposing hopes. First when Di Maria missed the target two meters from the Toulouse cage, then when Restes pulled out all the stops against Antonio Silva who had improvised as an attacker. At halftime, the score wasn’t there, but the desire was.
In the second half, this impression would increase tenfold with the huge consecutive chances from Sierro, Spierings and Nicolaisen. All three failed in front of Trubin, or narrowly missed the target. The Toulouse residents had moved up a gear, but luck did not work in their favor. Benfica held on, and the Portuguese were content with their one-goal lead. During the 90 minutes, the entire stadium felt the possible feat, but in the end, there were almost only regrets.