Midfielder Nampalys Mendy, who arrived late in Lens, was started by Sang et Or coach Franck Haise on Wednesday to face Sevilla FC (9:00 p.m.) on the first day of the Champions League.
The Senegalese, who arrived in Artois a little over two weeks ago, will experience his first match in his new colors, confirming an indication born from the smile of Franck Haise at the pre-match press conference when the The possibility had been mentioned.
Former player of Nice (2013-2016) and Leicester (2016-2023), the 31-year-old player has already played a C1 match with the Foxes. He is also one of three players to have already played in the competition within the Lens squad, with Faitout Maouassa (three) and Ruben Aguilar (two).
The latter, however, takes his place on the bench, because it is the Pole Przemyslaw Frankowski who will occupy the position of right piston.
Moreover, the starting eleven of the Artesian club does not present any major surprises. Reduced since the assembly of the France Espoirs team, midfielder Andy Diouf, usual starter, will start as a substitute. Up front, the trio Angelo Fulgini – Florian Sotoca – Elye Wahi will lead the Racing Club attack. Facing them, they will find the former central defender of Real Madrid and Paris SG Sergio Ramos, while the ex-Lensois Loïc Badé (2020-2021) will start on the bench.
Compositions:
Lens: Samba – Dance, Gradit, Medina – Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Mendy, Machado – Fulgini, Sotoca, Wahi
FC Séville: Dmitrovic – Pedrosa, Ramos, Gudelj, Sanchez – Sow, Fernando, Rakitic, Ocampos, Lamela – En-Nesyri