Two weeks after their draw at home against PSV Eindhoven, Lens returns to the Dutch club and could, if successful, move closer to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Follow the meeting live and with commentary, from 9 p.m., on the website linternaute.com.
21:01 – Kick-off in Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven players kick off at a packed Philip Stadion.
20:55 – Lots of goals
This season, only one team has managed to shut down PSV Eindhoven’s attack. This is Arsenal who had outclassed the Dutch in the first match of the season in the Champions League (0-4). In 18 matches, Peter Bosz’s men have scored 58 goals, an average of 3.2 goals per match. At home, PSV has only remained silent once in 2023, in all competitions. It was January 7 in the Eredivisie (0-0 against Sparta Rotterdam). He has scored at least one goal in his last 24 matches (58 goals scored in total, editor’s note) at PSV Stadion.
20:50 – Permeable behind
If it has regained its defensive solidity in Ligue 1 with only one goal conceded in its last five matches including three consecutive clean sheets (current series), Lens does not display the same statistics in the Champions League. In the continent’s flagship competition, the Artesians have not kept a clean sheet for 10 matches (17 goals conceded, editor’s note), and a trip to Arsenal…on November 25, 1998 (1-0).
20:45 – PSV is still going strong
PSV Eindhoven has still not won in the Champions League and this constitutes an incongruity in its season. Indeed, in 18 matches played, the Dutch have won 14 including the 11 played in the Championship, for 3 draws and 1 defeat.
20:40 – Not easy far from Bollaert
If successful in Eindhoven, Lens would sign their first away victory in the Champions League in the 21st century. The Artesian club has not won away from Bollaert in C1 since its trip to Wembley on November 25, 1998 where a goal from Mickaël Debève allowed it to defeat Arsenal (1-0). Since then, Lens has had 2 draws and 2 defeats.
20:35 – Five years of waiting
PSV Eindhoven has not won a Champions League match since October 3, 2018 and the reception of Inter Milan (2-1). Their last away success in the competition dates back even further to November 27, 2007 and a trip to Moscow against CSKA (1-0).
8:30 p.m. – Lens no longer loses
After a particularly difficult start to the season with four defeats in five matches, RC Lens has turned things around and is undefeated for eight matches in all competitions (4 wins and 5 draws). His last setback dates back to September 16 and the reception of Metz (0-1) in Ligue 1.
20:25 – One year of invincibility
The PSV Stadion has taken on the air of an impregnable fortress for the teams who have been there for a year. Indeed, PSV Eindhoven has not been defeated in front of its home crowd since November 12, 2022 and the reception of AZ Alkmaar (0-1), i.e. 25 consecutive matches.
20:20 – Update on the injured
For this 4th match of Group B, RC Lens will not be able to count on four of its players. In addition to Jimmy Cabot, not yet recovered from his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in October 2022, the northern club will have to do without David Pereira da Costa, returning, and Wuilker Farinez. Unavailable the previous match, Wesley Saïd is available again and will take his place on the bench. In the PSV Eindhoven camp, as in the first leg, Noa Lang Mauro Junior and Armando Obispo are absent, as well as Armel Bella-Kotchap.
20:15 – 1-1, ball in the center
During the previous day, RC Lens was held in check by PSV Eindhoven (1-1). Put under pressure from the start by the opposing pressure, the Lenois were able to loosen the Dutch grip but were surprised by a distant inspiration from Bakayoko. An opening score which had the merit of stinging the Northerners and shortly after the hour mark they managed to equalize through Wahi, acrobatically taking in a cross from Frankowski.
20:10 – Act II
This is the second time that RC Lens and PSV Eindhoven have met on the European scene.
20:08 – A change in the PSV Eindhoven eleven
Like Franck Haise, Peter Bosz made a change compared to the eleven who started in Lens. This is located in midfield where Schouten and Veerman will be supported by Til, who replaces Tillman. In front, the trident composed of Lozano, de Jong and Bakayoko was renewed, while in defense, we find the line of four formed by Boscagli and Ramalho in the axis, Dest on the left and Teze on the right.
20:05 – A German referee blowing the whistle
The match will be refereed by the German Mr. Daniel Siebert. He will be assisted by his compatriots Mr. Jan Seidel and Mr. Lace Koslowski. Another German Mr. Daniel Schlager will officiate as 4th referee. Video refereeing will be provided by the German-Italian pair Christian Dingert-Paolo Valeri.
20:01 – Thomasson holder, RC Lens starting lineup
No surprises in the eleven concocted by Franck Haise. As expected, Thomasson is the only change from the team that held a draw against PSV in Bollaert. He replaces Fulgini in the attacking trio and will be associated with Wahi and Sotoca. In the middle, we find the Abdul Samed-Mendy pair. In the corridors, Frankowski and Machado are returned, respectively to the right and to the left. Behind, Danso, Medina and Gradit will protect the axis and the surface of Samba.
8:00 p.m. – Welcome
Good evening everyone and welcome to follow this match counting for the 4th day of the group stage of the Champions League. Second in Group B, Lens travels to last place PSV Eindhoven.