Under the lights at Bollaert-Delelis, Lens had the ball, the noise and early momentum, but Sporting left northern France with the sharper edge in a 2-0 Champions League win.
The Ligue 1 news
Lens suffered their first defeat of the 2026-27 campaign on Tuesday as Sporting punished defensive uncertainty to take three points on the second matchday of the Champions League league phase.
The result halted the Sang et Or after their stirring 3-2 away victory over Slavia Prague in the opening round a month earlier. It was also Lens’ first Champions League home match for almost three years, since their late 2-1 success against Sevilla.
Luis Suarez, formerly of Marseille, put Sporting ahead in the 22nd minute, while new Italy international Issa Doumbia settled the contest with 16 minutes remaining. Sporting had reached last season’s quarter-finals and showed their experience in the decisive moments.
Yannick Cahuzac made five alterations from the Lens side that started Friday’s 2-1 Ligue 1 win over Lyon. Saud Abdulhamid, Samson Baidoo, Amadou Haidara, Franjo Ivanovic and Junior Kadile came in for Ruben Aguilar, Jonathan Gradit, Yacine Titraoui, Odsonne Edouard and Florian Sotoca.
Lens began with authority. Their high press pinned Sporting back and they created the clearer chances in the opening stages. Florian Thauvin forced goalkeeper Kaique Pereira into a difficult save after six minutes, before Kadile sent an effort off target seven minutes later.
Sporting struck during their first real opening. Young Portuguese midfielder Joao Simoes drove forward before Nestory Irankunda delivered a low cross, which Suarez met to finish from close range.
The home side continued to press but repeatedly looked exposed when Sporting broke. Suarez should have added another after Baidoo and Kyllian Antonio both failed to deal with the same situation, only for Robin Risser to deny him.
Lens came closest to levelling in the 34th minute, when Ivanovic’s swerving shot hit the post. Haidara then directed an effort too close to the goalkeeper shortly before half-time.
The pattern continued after the interval. Antonio blocked a Geny Catamo attempt, while Risser used his right foot to keep out Simoes. At the other end, Haidara saw a long-range strike saved and substitute Edouard could not generate enough power with his shot.
Sporting eventually made the game safe in the 74th minute. Silas Andersen’s through ball opened Lens up and Doumbia beat Risser, who had been caught in an awkward position, to score his first goal of the night.
Baidoo’s difficult return
Baidoo’s inclusion was one of the main talking points in Cahuzac’s selection. The 22-year-old Austrian centre-back had not started a competitive fixture since Lens’ 2-0 Ligue 1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday 29 last season.
After a series of injuries during 2026, including a thigh issue over the summer, Baidoo had played 36 minutes against Lyon four days earlier. His return to the starting side proved difficult.
He was beaten by Suarez for the opening goal and appeared uncertain alongside the rest of a Lens defence that was often poorly positioned. Further errors followed early in the second half, and Cahuzac replaced him with Aguilar in the 57th minute.
The next appointment in France
Lens return to Champions League duty next Wednesday with a 21:00 trip to Club Brugge. They will then welcome Como to Bollaert-Delelis on 4 November.
