Two weeks after the rout in London, Lens bids farewell to the Champions League but must at least grab a draw to ensure it qualifies for the Europa League play-offs.
19:32 – Pereira Da Costa does not pass
Frankowski throws Wahi deep on the left. The attacker relies on Pereira Da Costa who comes up against Juanlu.
19:31 – Additional time: 2 minutes
There will be two minutes of added time in this first period between RC Lens and Sevilla FC.
19:30 – Rakitic hits wide
El Aynaoui clears as best he can with his head but sends the ball to Rakitic on the edge of the Lens area on the right. In a similar position a few minutes earlier, the Croatian arms with his right but his outside right is less applied and passes widely to the left of Samba’s goal.
19:29 – Welcome back from Sotoca
Rakitic finds a nice passing line of more than 20 meters to serve Torres from 20 meters. The latter transmits to Sow who misses his control and sees Sotoca steal the ball from him.
19:27 – Wahi in the vice
Lens recovers a high ball 25 m away and we try to serve Wahi. With his back to the game, the attacker is squeezed by Ramos and sees Soumaré raked at his feet.
19:25 – Good coverage from Kike Salas
On the right side, Gradit sends a long ball forward for Aguilar. It’s too deep and Kike Salas comes on the cover to recover a ball thrown by the Northerners, still unable to approach the Andalusian surface.
19:24 – Head dance again
The free kick, located on the right 20 meters away, is well wrapped but passes above En-Nesyri. Behind his back, at the penalty spot, Danso pushes back with a header.
19:23 – Yellow card for El Aynaoui
On the right side, Torres escapes El Aynaoui. The Lens midfielder clings to the Sevillian and commits an anti-playing error which earns him a yellow card.
19:21 – Pedrosa covers the counter
The corner, taken from the left side by Rakitic, is headed clear before the near post by Gradit. Lens begins a counter with Pereira Da Costa pushing above Pedrosa but the Spanish full-back is solid and resists the Portuguese’s speed to put in touch and stop the counter.
19:20 – Lens in the tough
The Lensois fail to continue. Danso tries to clear the ball but is blocked. He had to fall back and thought he was escaping Torres’ pressure but he let the ball go out of touch.
19:17 – El Aynaoui saves the shot
Rakitic gives between the lines in the area on the right for Juanlu. The full-back slides towards Sow but the Sevillian midfielder is beaten by the good burst of El Aynaoui who scratches a free kick to allow the Northerners to get out of this situation.
19:15 – En-Nesyri too short
The corner is extended to the near post by Kike Salas. En-Nesyri throws himself at the far post but in the duel, Danso pushes him just enough to prevent him from being able to regain the ball.
19:14 – Samba flies away!
The danger becomes clearer on the Lens goal. Following a poorly cleared ball, Rakitic fires a half-volley from the right corner of the Lens area. His shot is perfectly balanced and falls under the bar but Samba relaxes and deflects with a firm hand for a corner.
19:13 – Danso in front of En-Nesyri
The Lensois are passive and never stop chasing a ball which the Sevillians do wonderfully. Rakitic has time in the area and comes out on the right on Juanlu in the center is well worked. In front of the 6 meters, Danso takes the ball away from En-Nesyri.
19:12 – Danso clears
Rakitic’s corner is a new one placed in the Lensoise area but on reception, it is Danso’s head which meets the ball and clears it.
19:11 – Sevilla lacks fair play
The ball is put back into play by the Sevillians. While the Lensois expect their opponents to give them back possession as is required, they play the move and find a gap in the area before obtaining a corner. The whistles fall from the Bollaert stands and the referee must calm everyone’s minds.
19:09 – Sevilla does not take the ball out
The game resumes but without Mendy and Lens plays very low at 10 against 11. The ball is finally recovered at the entrance to the area after a bad dribble from Juanlu. Behind, the Northerners hesitate to take the ball out, which Samba ultimately does.
19:06 – Mendy injured!
Hard blow for RC Lens who will lose Mendy in the 20th minute. His midfielder injured his left hamstring on his own and lay down on the pitch, requiring the intervention of trainers.
19:04 – Deprived of the ball
Lens cannot get into their match and still seems to be a step behind the Sevillians who have confiscated the ball for 19 minutes. For the moment, the Andalusian domination is not expressed on the scoreboard, Diego Alonso’s men lacking precision like the opening towards Pedrosa, which is a little long.
19:02 – The rain is coming
The rain has just appeared above Lens. Playing conditions risk deteriorating if it persists.
19:01 – Fist samba
Rakitic rolls his corner into the heart of the area where Samba wins and clears with both fists to relieve his defense.
18:59 – New Sevillian corner
The Sevillans are between the lines like Sow who inserts himself beyond the halfway line and immediately shifts to the left Pedrosa who has space. The Sevillian full-back crosses into the area towards En-Nesyri and forces Gradit to tackle and put the ball for a corner.
18:58 – It heats up on the corner
Frankowski comes back well and concedes another corner on the right for Sevilla. Rakitic lifts his ball into the area where Ramos and Medina hook up again. The referee does not flinch despite the Spanish defender’s complaints. Tension rises between the two defenders.