Lens returned to the Champions League with a 3-2 stoppage-time victory over Slavia Prague, overturning a match that appeared lost in the 90th minute and leaving the Czech capital with a result capable of changing the mood of their European campaign.
| Match | Key scoreline | Decisive moments |
|---|---|---|
| Slavia Prague 2-3 Lens | 0-0 at half-time; 2-1 Slavia in the 87th minute; 2-3 at full time | Šturm scored twice for Slavia; Sima equalised for Lens; Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar struck late |
Coach Töppmöller saw his side endure a punishing first half before a second-half dismissal transformed the contest. Lens introduced 16-year-old academy player Mesloub during the frantic closing stages, and the teenager supplied the cross from which Thauvin headed the equaliser.
Lens survive Prague pressure before late European escape
Slavia began with the authority of a side accustomed to making visiting teams uncomfortable in Prague. Their man-oriented pressing prevented Lens from establishing any passing rhythm, while direct balls into space repeatedly exposed the French defence.
Ayaosi was particularly troublesome with the ball at his feet and thought he had put Slavia ahead shortly before the interval. His finish past Risser was ruled out, however, after the referee judged that he had controlled the ball with his elbow.
The balance shifted after the break when Slavia lost Zima, their leading central defender, to injury. His replacement, the young Konecny, felled Sima in his first involvement. Following a VAR review at the pitchside screen, the referee sent Konecny off.
Yet the extra man did not immediately bring Lens control. Instead, two minutes after the red card, Šturm drove home a powerful effort to give Slavia the lead. The match opened into a sequence of attacks at both ends, with midfield influence almost disappearing.
Šturm’s double is eclipsed by stoppage-time response
Lens found a route back through Sima, whose equaliser intensified an already volatile night. Slavia responded in the 87th minute when the influential Šturm scored again, seemingly restoring the home side’s grip on the contest.
There was still time for Lens to produce their defining response. Mesloub created the opportunity for Thauvin, who headed in the 2-2, before Ruben Aguilar struck decisively in stoppage time to complete the turnaround.
The final whistle confirmed an improbable win for the Sang et Or: a side that had been overwhelmed early on, then struggled to impose themselves despite their numerical advantage, had found enough resilience to take all three points from one of the more demanding away settings in the competition.
The result offers a timely lift for Lens after an uneven start to the season, despite their Super Cup success. More importantly, it gives their Champions League return a statement result built on nerve, youth and a refusal to accept defeat.
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Lens stun Slavia Prague with dramatic 3-2 Champions League comeback
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Lens beat Slavia Prague 3-2 in a dramatic Champions League return, with Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar completing a stoppage-time comeback in Prague.
