The Sang et Or, who face RC Strasbourg Alsace this Friday evening (9 p.m.), can hope to join the title race.
Six dots. Six little dots. In this last part of the championship, RC Lens, second in the standings, can legitimately consider returning to Paris SG. And thus hope to win his second title of champion of France after that acquired in 1997-1998. Before his match against RC Strasbourg Alsace, this Friday evening (9:00 p.m.), Le Figaro explains to you why the artesian club can dream of a crazy end to the season.
A well-defined game identity
Unlike the Rouge et Bleu, the Sang et Or rely on a strong game identity. For three years, the ingredients of “chef” Franck Haise have been the same: intensity, commitment, solidarity, breadth, rapid projections, risk-taking. And the recipe works well. It allows them, most of the time, to dominate their adversaries and to obtain many dangerous situations; even when they lose or concede the point of the draw. Whether they are behind or in front of the score, the Lensois play with the same enthusiasm. This is their strength. Being able to count on clear and solid principles of play, perfectly assimilated by the players, is certainly an asset of choice in this final sprint which promises to be turbulent.
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They pulled themselves out of a delicate period
The start of 2023 had started so well for RC Lens. On January 1, he offered the leader, Paris SG (3-1). A remarkable success which the artesian club failed to take advantage of since it completely stalled thereafter (five draws and two losses for “only” two victories), in particular due to a cascade of injuries and a lack of efficiency in both surfaces. This bad patch ended on March 12 with its (very) wide success on the lawn of Clermont Foot 63 (0-4). The Sang et Or, carried among others by a found Loïs Openda, then chained two other victories – against SCO Angers (3-0) and Stade Rennes (0-1) – which allowed them to (re)take the second place in the Ligue 1 standings. With such mental strength, Paris SG could well be worried at the end of the season.
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Franck Haise, serene master of the ship
When his team experienced its downturn, Franck Haise never panicked. He always remained calm. And optimistic:What interests me is that we play a great match, that we let go as we tried to do against Lille, and that we can be as effective as possible. We are not very far from winning matches or even making winning streaks, he said before the meeting against Clermont Foot 63, in the midst of a delicate period for his club. It doesn’t matter much. But we’re the only ones who can trigger this, no one will give it to us, we’re the ones who have to go get it.This positive state of mind has trickled down to players lacking in confidence, like Loïs Openda. And allowed the Blood and Gold to bounce back. In this end of the championship, which should be (very) nervous, having a captain capable of bringing serenity to his group could prove to be a big advantage. Especially since in Paris SG, the climate is not optimal.
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The “big ones” don’t scare them
AS Monaco, Stade Rennes, Olympique de Marseille, Paris SG… The “big guys” in the French championship are doing quite well at RC Lens this season. And that’s good, because by the end of the season, the Sang et Or still have to face three of the four best teams in Ligue 1: the current leader of the classification (April 15); the Principality club, which is at the foot of the podium (April 22); and the Marseille team, third with the same number of points as the Artesian club (May 7). Suffice to say that with such a calendar, Franck Haise and his men could well have their destiny in their hands as regards the race for the podium…and even that for the title of champion of France.