Champions League – RC Lens leaves Seville with a draw full of promise

2023-09-20 23:01:00

After a failed start to the League and only one point taken after five days, Racing Club Lens had to get back on track this Wednesday evening in Spain against Sevilla FC. For Franck Haise’s men, their reunion with the Champions League 21 years after their last participation is not off to a good start. In a one-way start for the Andalusians, Lucas Ocampos opened the scoring (1-0, 8th) with a header that lobbed Brice Samba from a corner.

Fulgini’s free kick gem

This goal conceded will sting the pride of the Sang et Or who are remobilizing. Following a breakthrough from Elye Wahi cut down by Sergio Ramos, Racing obtains a very good free kick. Angelo Fulgini sends a powerful strike into the Sevillian left corner and in the process scores his first goal this season (1-1, 24th). Lens gains confidence and settles a little further into the opposing camp, without making the difference again.

It still takes an exceptional save from Brice Samba with his right hand (30th) to prevent Ocampos from scoring a double. After being naive on Seville’s first goal, the French international goalkeeper showed his advantage and intervened again neatly in a hot situation at the initiative of Lamela (38th). At the break, the two teams return to the locker room with a logical parity score. After a delicate start, Racing recovered well but watch out for the aggressiveness this Wednesday evening at the Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium: already four warnings collected for the Lensois.

Lens is still in the game after the locker room but does not create a big concrete opportunity. Elye Wahi is in a good position but the former Montpellier striker comes across Sergio Ramos who is still just as solid at 37: the Lensois’ shot is deflected for a corner but it does nothing (57th). In this second period, the two teams go blow for blow and Brice Samba still needs to be very vigilant on a shot deflected by Danso to preserve the draw point (69th).

Much more inspired than in Ligue 1, RC Lens even has the opportunity to achieve a prestigious success: on a cross from the right by Frankowski, Guilavogui is in an advantageous situation and places a powerful header. It takes a big save from the opposing goalkeeper to prevent him from scoring on this one (79th). In the end, the two teams parted in a draw which will leave the Lensois with some regrets. After a very timid start, undoubtedly still marked by their difficult start to the season in Ligue 1, Franck Haise’s men let go. At times, we even found the enthusiastic Racing of last year. We will now have to confirm on Sunday with the reception of Toulouse in the championship and achieve the first victory of the season.