Sporting CP left northern France with a second straight Champions League win, defeating Lens 2-0 at the Bollaert-Delelis to make it six points from six and give their European campaign early momentum. Luis Suárez broke the home side’s resistance before Issa Doumbia settled a demanding night late on, with the Portuguese champions surviving Lens pressure and making their decisive moments count.
Suárez had arrived in Lisbon with the substantial task of replacing Viktor Gyökeres, but his first season has already carried weight. His 21st-minute finish, meeting a low cross from Irankunda at the near post after Sporting worked their way down the left, took him to eight Champions League goals for the club — a new Sporting record in the competition.
Lens had begun at full intensity, driven forward by a packed and hostile home stadium. Florian Thauvin tested Sporting debutant Kaique with a firm but central effort from the edge of the box, then delivered a dangerous cross across the six-yard area which no teammate could reach. Kevin Danso? No, it was Quaresma who then had to take a risk in the area, going to ground as he attempted to stop Kadile.
Rui Borges had adjusted his midfield following Rodrigo Zalazar’s absence, selecting João Simões alongside Sergi Altimira and Doumbia, while Kaique — signed from Palmeiras — was preferred in goal to Rui Silva for his first Sporting appearance. Altimira frequently dropped between the centre-backs as Sporting tried to slow the rhythm against a Lens side set up with Baidoo back in the team, Ganiou on the right of the defensive line, and Kadile and Ivanovic joining Thauvin in attack.
Once ahead, Sporting began to expose more space. Lens goalkeeper Risser denied Suárez in a one-on-one after 32 minutes, but the hosts had their own route back before the interval. Ivanovic struck the post with a powerful effort, Kaique turned away a shot from Haidara, and Irankunda went close to extending the visitors’ lead on the counter, his attempt passing narrowly wide of the woodwork.
A frantic second half, then Sporting’s final blow
The contest remained open after the restart. Udol blocked a close-range effort from Catamo, while Lens coach Cahuzac introduced Rubén Aguilar and Édouard before the hour as his side pressed for an equaliser. Haidara forced Kaique into a corner-saving stop with a fierce shot aimed towards the top corner, and at the other end Risser used his foot to keep out João Simões.
Cahuzac later sent on 16-year-old Mezian Mesloub, whose teammates quickly looked to involve him as Lens chased the game. Sporting responded with changes of their own, bringing on Jesse Derry and Silas Andersen, and the substitutions combined immediately to end the contest.
Andersen and Derry linked play before Doumbia made an unexpected run into the space behind the defence. Risser came out but misjudged the situation, allowing the Sporting midfielder to finish for 2-0 and silence the Bollaert-Delelis once more.
For Lens, a night that began with energy and ambition ended with missed opportunities. Sporting, meanwhile, took a composed away victory back to Lisbon, with Suárez’s record-setting strike and Doumbia’s late finish leaving Rui Borges’ side perfect after two matchdays.
