Luis Suarez freezes the Bollaert‑Delelis before the Lens‑Sporting clash

After a wild victory snatched on 10 September last on the Slavia Prague pitch (2‑3), Racing Club de Lens returns to the Champions League this Tuesday and hosts Sporting Portugal at the Bollaert‑Delelis stadium. The Blood and Gold, nicknamed the Lens players, set a good tempo from the opening minutes, but the first goal was scored by Luis Suarez, near post, in the 22nd minute.

First half

The match started with the Lens players who applied sustained pressure for a quarter of an hour, without managing to convert their chances. The lack of responsiveness in the Lens camp allowed the visitors to exploit a quick counter‑attack. Nestor Irankunda recovered the ball, moved to the left and crossed to the near post, where Suarez deflected the ball into the Lens net.

This first goal put Sporting Portugal in front from the start of the match. Robin Risser, the Lens goalkeeper, had not had to make a save before that moment, highlighting the difficulty of the Lens defence in containing the Portuguese attack.

Lens chase third straight win over Sporting in Champions League

The Lens players, now forced to react, will need to find a quick answer to get back on level in this high‑level duel. The match, which takes place this Tuesday, represents an important step for Racing Club de Lens who hope to continue their good momentum after the victory against Slavia Prague.