Florian Thauvin celebrates a aim with Lens coach Pierre Sage. Picture: AFP/File
PARIS:
Lens are having fun with a outstanding season in France and might seize high spot in Ligue 1 this weekend as they appear to take the title combat to a Paris Saint-Germain aspect whose predominant focus is the Champions League.
PSG’s lead on the high of the desk is a single level with 9 video games remaining, which means Lens will go high with a win at Lorient on Saturday.
They’re aiming to benefit from the truth that PSG have been given the weekend off, their dwelling fixture in opposition to Nantes postponed till April to present Luis Enrique’s aspect a relaxation in between the 2 legs of their Champions League last-16 tie in opposition to Chelsea.
The truth that Lens are even inside touching distance of the Qatar-backed membership is totally sudden, on condition that their finances just isn’t even a tenth of that of the reigning European champions.
The membership from an outdated coal mining group within the far north of France, round 40 kilometres from the Belgian border, received their solely league title in 1998 however completed as runners-up to PSG as just lately as 2023.
They fell away within the final two campaigns, ending seventh after which eighth, not even qualifying for Europe for this season.
Between 2023 and the final shut season, Lens bought a bunch of key gamers, together with Brice Samba, Kevin Danso, Seko Fofana, Lois Openda, Facundo Medina, Neil El Aynaoui, Andy Diouf and Abdukodir Khusanov.
Many have gone to main European golf equipment resembling Manchester Metropolis and Inter Milan, typically for giant charges, however Lens haven’t been capable of reinvest all that cash in new signings.
Nonetheless, their choice to nominate former Lyon boss Pierre Sage as coach has been a masterstroke.
The unassuming Sage has constructed an impressive aspect stuffed with over-performing gamers, wherein the most important star is French worldwide ahead Florian Thauvin.
Lens have the most effective defensive document within the division and have received 12 and misplaced two of their 15 Ligue 1 video games because the begin of November.
They’re by way of to the semi-finals of the French Cup, a trophy they’ve by no means received and nonetheless have an opportunity of a dream double.
Final weekend, as PSG misplaced 3-1 to Monaco, Lens beat backside membership Metz 3-0 to chop the hole.
Nevertheless, the journey to Brittany to play Lorient guarantees to be an ungainly one, because the promoted membership are having fun with a high-quality season.
Sage has in thoughts the truth that Lens are attributable to host PSG on the weekend of April 11 and final week in contrast the title race to the Tour de France.
“Proper now we’re nonetheless within the Alps with a great few levels and climbs to barter,” Sage mentioned final week, with Angers up subsequent after Lorient.
On Thursday he mentioned: “Our goal now’s to get six extra factors earlier than the following worldwide break so we will go into the rest of the season in the very best form.”
Participant to look at
The Lens left-back just isn’t one of many extra trendy names in French soccer however he has been so spectacular this season that he’s a powerful contender to make the France squad for the upcoming friendlies in opposition to Brazil and Colombia.
Udol, who turns 30 this month, had spent his entire profession at yo-yo membership Metz earlier than this season and has needed to come again from a number of critical knee accidents.
Nevertheless, his performances at Lens as a wing-back of their 3-4-2-1 system have been a serious contributor to their success.
