A fall for RC Lens. Authors of a more than mixed performance, the Sang et Or were beaten (1-0) by PSV Eindhoven, during the 4th day of group B of the Champions League. They miss the opportunity to get ahead of their evening opponent and Sevilla FC in the race to qualify for the round of 16, behind Arsenal.
In the first period, Franck Haise’s players got off to a good start with a lot of energy, despite some technical waste, but Lens’ attempts were present, such as this long shot from Florian Sotoca (3rd), this counter-attack phase. Elye Wahi (4th) and this long shot from Deiver Machado (11th). On a magnificent cross brushed by Johan Bakayoko, the Dutchman Luuk de Jong jumped higher than everyone including Kevin Danso to place his powerful header, well helped by the returning bar of Brice Samba (12th, 1-0).
Subsequently, RC Lens got stuck in a negative spiral, struggling to establish accuracy and offensive fluidity to create real opportunities. Frustration was also invited to the party with no less than four yellow cards received in the last four minutes before the break for Sotoca, Machado, Wahi and Danso. The Eindhoven players even pushed to double the lead thanks to a lot of work from Hirving Lozano and Bakayoko. In the second act, the Sang et Or returned to the same bases with a lot of hesitation, like this very slow clearance from Samba or this loss of the ball from Mendy who gave PSV a corner. The Lensois are asphyxiated by the pressing and aggressiveness of Eindhoven.
Bosz’s players never gave up, continuing to create opportunities. They are clearly looking for the second goal by dominating both the flanks, but also the axis. Thanks to a huge Johan Bakayoko on the right side, like his breakthroughs, PSV managed to secure a success on the smallest of margins. Lens failed to find solutions to slow him down this evening. Every Lens error was exploited by the Dutch. Guilavogui’s post (87th) in the final moments reinforces Lensois regrets, accentuated by Guilavogui’s red card (90th 1)
With this result, RC Lens still has a total of 5 points and is now in 3rd position in this ranking, while PSV takes second place. In the other Group B match, Arsenal made short work of Sevilla FC (2-0).
